Mike Defensor

Michael Tan Defensor (Tagalog pronunciation: [dɪfɛnˈsɔɾ], born June 30, 1969) is a Filipino politician serving as the Party-list Representative for ANAKALUSUGAN since 2019. He is also the chief executive officer of Pax Libera Mining, Inc. Defensor is one of the congressmen who is against the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN and among the 70 congressmen who voted to reject the new franchise.[1][2]

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
Mike Defensor at a 2007 political rally in Cebu City
Member of the
Philippine House of Representatives
for ANAKALUSUGAN party-list
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
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
2001–2004
PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded byKarina Constantino David
Succeeded byNoli de Castro
General Manager of the
National Housing Authority
In office
2001–2004
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
In office
June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995
Personal details
Born (1969-06-30) June 30, 1969
Manila, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Political partyPeople's Reform Party (2009-)
Lakas–CMD (2007-2009)
Liberal Party (1995-2007)
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (1992-1995)
Spouse(s)Julie Rose Tactacan-Defensor

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: general manager of the National Housing Authority, 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.

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 in the 1992 elections at the age of 23, making him the youngest member of that body.

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.[3]

On October 9, 2008, Defensor was named acting chairman of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).[4][5]

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.

Involvemet in ZTE-NBN scam
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)."[6]

Planned government takeover of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center
Main article: ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy

Defensor was 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 was one of the 70 congressmen who voted "yes" to "kill" (deny) the franchise renewal, 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[7] 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. Luis Raymund 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.[8]

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)

Other positions held
  • Chief Executive Officer, Pax Libera Mining
  • 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 / was nominated to the board of directors of Petron Corporation (with former budget secretary Emilia Boncodin). Defensor had been frequenting Macau. Boncodin stated that Mike 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.[9]

See also

References
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. Abs-Cbn Interactive, Arroyo appoints Mike Defensor as NAIA-3 task force head
  4. pia.gov.ph PGMA names Defensor, Quevedo and two others to important posts
  5. sunstar.com, Defensor is new PNR chief Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
  6. abs-cbnnews.com, Defensor files perjury raps vs Lozada
  7. AnaKalusugan Partylist Cong. Mike Defensor's Video
  8. Daphne Galvez (2020-07-23). "ABS-CBN property takeover? Sotto says private property is Charter protected". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  9. "AbsCbn, Defensor joins Petron board". Archived from the original on 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
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