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Mike Defensor

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In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Tan and the surname or paternal family name is Defensor.
The Honorable
Mike Defensor
Portrait during the 18th Congress
Member of the
Philippine House of Representatives
for Anakalusugan party-list
In office
June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2022
Malacañang Chief of Staff
In office
2006 – February 10, 2007
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byRigoberto Tiglao
Succeeded byJoey Salceda
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
In office
August 31, 2004 – February 15, 2006
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byElisa Gozun
Succeeded byAngelo Reyes
Chairman of the
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
In office
January 20, 2001 – June 30, 2004
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byKarina Constantino David
Succeeded byNoli de Castro
Member of the
Philippine House of Representatives
from Quezon City's 3rd district
In office
June 30, 1995 – January 20, 2001
Preceded byDennis Roldan
Succeeded byMaria Theresa Defensor
Member of the
Quezon City Council
from the 3rd district
In office
June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995
Personal details
Born
Michael Tan Defensor

(1969-06-30) June 30, 1969 (age 55)
Manila, Philippines
Political partyPartido Federal ng Pilipinas (2021–present)
Other political
affiliations		PDP–Laban (2018–2021)
People's Reform Party (2009–2018)
Lakas–CMD (2007–2009)
Liberal Party (1995–2007)
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (1992–1995)
SpouseJulie Rose Tactacan-Defensor
Children5
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines Diliman
OccupationPolitician

Michael Tan Defensor (Tagalog pronunciation: [dɪfɛnˈsɔɾ], born June 30, 1969) is a Filipino politician who most recently served as the Party-list Representative for Anakalusugan from 2019 to 2022. He is also the CEO of Pax Libera Mining, Inc.

Defensor began his political career in Quezon City, where he was a member of the city council from 1992 to 1995. He was elected as representative of the city's 3rd district in 1995. In congress, he was a member of the "Spice Boys", a group of young congressmen who led the efforts to impeach President Joseph Estrada. The impeachment trial and widescale protests of the Second EDSA Revolution resulted in Estrada's resignation and Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's accession to the presidency. Defensor went on to serve various positions in the Arroyo administration: chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, and Malacañang Chief of Staff. He was also appointed to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Philippine National Railways.

In 2019, he was elected again to the House of Representatives. He was a leading figure among the 70 representatives who voted to deny the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.[1][2] During the COVID-19 pandemic, he promoted and distributed the antiparasitic drug ivermectin as a prophylaxis and treatment for COVID-19, despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting its efficacy.

Defensor unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Quezon City in 2010 and 2022.

Education

He finished elementary, Bachelor of Arts in History, and Masters in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines where he became a member of the UP Alpha Sigma Fraternity. He finished his secondary education at Niles McKinley High School in Niles, Ohio. He is married to Julie Rose Tactacan Defensor.

Political career

Quezon City councilor

Defensor was elected as a Quezon City councilor from the third district in the 1992 elections at the age of 23, making him the youngest member of that body.[3] He received the Manuel Quezon Bantayog Award for Most Outstanding QC Councilor for the year 1994.[4]

Congressman

Defensor ran for congressman of the third district of Quezon City in the 1995 election, subsequently winning. He won reelection in 1998.

Estrada impeachment

Defensor was part of the Spice Boys of the House of Representatives that spearheaded the filing of the impeachment case against then-president Joseph Estrada.

Arroyo cabinet

After Edsa II, Defensor was appointed as Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He held that post until August 2004 when he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

In the 2004 presidential election, he served as the official campaign spokesperson of President Arroyo. After his tenure as DENR Secretary he was appointed Presidential Chief of Staff. He resigned that post on February 10, 2007, to campaign for a post in the senate.

In June 2008 he was appointed head of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport International Passenger Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) by virtue of the June 9, Executive Order No. 732 (creating the Presidential Task Force on the NAIA-3 that was "mandated to ensure the immediate opening and operation of Terminal III.") The order provides for the NAIA-3 opening based on decisions of the Supreme Court and applicable laws.[5]

On October 9, 2008, Defensor was named acting chairman of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).[6][7]

Senate candidacy

Defensor was among the first to file for candidacy for the senate on February 12, 2007. He employed popular gossip show host Boy Abunda as his campaign manager. He was named to the TEAM Unity coalition backed by the Arroyo administration. However, he lost the race, placing 15th overall out of the 12 seats.

Representative for Anakalusugan

Defensor speaking at a Uniteam election rally in Batasan Hills, Quezon City

Denial of the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN

Main article: ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy

Defensor is one of the vocal opponents against the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, together with Sagip Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and Cavite Seventh District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla. He is one of the 70 congressmen who voted "yes" to "kill" (deny) the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, in favor of the report from the Technical Working Group. After claiming continuous victory, Defensor inititiated an online forum via Zoom and streamed live on Facebook[8] along with Marcoleta, Remulla, Yedda Romualdez, Journalie Payonan, Danilo Fernandez, Jonathan Sy-Alvarado, Inno Dy and Alfred delos Santos to discuss the fate of ABS-CBN. On July 18, 2020, they discussed the potential takeover of the ill-fated network due to alleged tampered torrens title, fine for the alleged illegal sale of ABS-CBN TV Plus for almost ₱2 trillion, and the total closure of Sky Cable as suggested by Rep. LRay Villafuerte. Meanwhile, pro-ABS-CBN advocate Christine Bersola-Babao slammed the forum and called the congresspersons as "evil", and Senate President Tito Sotto slammed the possible takeover of ABS-CBN by calling the compound as constitutionally protected.[9]

BTS sa Kongreso

In January 2021, Defensor is announced to be part of the new bloc "BTS sa Kongreso" (named after the K-pop boy band group BTS of South Korea), a coalition group formed by Alan Peter Cayetano of the House of Representatives of 18th Congress.[10]

Ivermectin pantry

See also: Community pantries in the Philippines § Ivermectin pantry

In April 2021, Defensor and SAGIP party-list representative Rodante Marcoleta initiated an "ivermectin pan-three" that distributes the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin, despite warnings from the World Health Organization on the lack of evidence to support ivermectin's efficacy against COVID-19.[11]

Controversies

Involvement in ZTE-NBN corruption scandal

Main article: NBN–ZTE deal corruption scandal

Mike Defensor, on July 4, 2008, filed 6-page perjury lawsuit Friday versus Rodolfo Noel Lozada for "testifying under oath that he had paid Lozada ₱50,000 to change his statement that he was not kidnapped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) when he arrived from Hong Kong at the height of the Philippine National Broadband Network controversy (ZTE Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited scandal)."[12]

Laws authored by Mike Defensor

  • RA 8313, An Act upgrading the Quirino Memorial Medical Center
  • RA 8976, An Act Requiring the Fortification of Processed Foods with Essential Micronutrients
  • An Act Creating the Department of Housing and Urban Development (co-author)
  • Dangerous Drugs Act of 1998 (co-author)
  • Act Amending the Magna Carta of the Disabled Persons (co-author)
  • Act Mandating the Nationwide Rabies Vaccination Program (co-author)
  • Technical Working Group (TWG) report recommending the denial of ABS-CBN's franchise application (co-author)

Other positions held

  • Former Vice-Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Legislative Franchises[13]
  • Chief Executive Officer, Pax Libera Mining
  • Chair, NiHAO Mineral Resources Inc. (mining company)[14]
  • Chair, Geograce Resources Philippines (mining company)[14]
  • Chairperson, Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas
  • Chairperson, National Movement of Young Legislators
  • Chairperson, National Union of Students in the Philippines
  • Lord Chancellor, Alpha Sigma Fraternity
  • Program Director, Youth Council of the Philippines

Director, Petron Corporation

On December 4, 2007, Mike Defensor quietly joined to the board of directors of Petron Corporation with former budget secretary Emilia Boncodin. Defensor had been frequenting Macau. Boncodin stated that Defensor was invited to the board by Nicasio Alcantara, government's team head / Chair, Petron. Membership in the Petron board is a lucrative job, as Defensor was offered a board seat in sequestered United Coconut Planters Bank. Defeated administration candidate, former senator Ralph Recto joined the board of Union Bank, controlled by the Aboitiz family.[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Perez-Rubio, Bella (July 10, 2020). "List of lawmakers who voted for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Neil Arwin Mercado (2020-07-14). "Defensor: Denial of ABS-CBN franchise not 'death penalty,' only 'life imprisonment'". Inquirer.net.
  3. ^ "Michael "Mike" Defensor". eBoto. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Luna, Luis (April 17, 1995). "Defensor eyes stepped-up drive vs drugs". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 6. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  5. ^ Abs-Cbn Interactive, Arroyo appoints Mike Defensor as NAIA-3 task force head[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ pia.gov.ph PGMA names Defensor, Quevedo and two others to important posts
  7. ^ sunstar.com, Defensor is new PNR chief Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ AnaKalusugan Partylist Cong. Mike Defensor's Video
  9. ^ Daphne Galvez (2020-07-23). "ABS-CBN property takeover? Sotto says private property is Charter protected". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  10. ^ Luci-Atienza, Charissa (16 January 2021). "Ok for Defensor to join Cayetano-led BTS sa Kongreso, says Rep. Romualdez". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  11. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (27 April 2021). "Defensor, Marcoleta to distribute Ivermectin 'to those in dire need of drug'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  12. ^ abs-cbnnews.com, Defensor files perjury raps vs Lozada[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ Hallare, Katrina (10 March 2021). "Defensor replaced as House legislative franchises panel vice-chair". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Two firms chaired by ex-DENR chief Defensor bag mining deals". ABS-CBN. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  15. ^ "AbsCbn, Defensor joins Petron board". Archived from the original on July 9, 2007. Retrieved December 4, 2007.

References

Government offices
Preceded by
Rigoberto Tiglao
 Malacañang Chief of Staff
2006–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Elisea G. Gozun
 Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
2004–2006 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
2001–2004 		Succeeded by
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by Member of the House of Representatives
from Quezon City's 3rd district
1995–2001 		Succeeded by
Maria Theresa Defensor
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