Mike Defensor

Michael Defensor
Mike Defensor at a 2007 political rally in Cebu City
Malacañang Chief of Staff
In office
2006 – February 10, 2007
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Succeeded by Joey Salceda
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
In office
2004–2006
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by Elisa Gozun
Succeeded by Angelo Reyes
Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
In office
2001–2004
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by Karina Constantino David
Succeeded by Noli de Castro
General Manager of the National Housing Authority
In office
2001–2004
Member of the Philippines House of Representatives from Quezon City's 3rd District
In office
June 30, 1995 – January 20, 2001
Preceded by Dennis Roldan
Succeeded by Maria Theresa Defensor
Councilor of Quezon City
In office
June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995
Personal details
Born (1969-06-30) June 30, 1969
Manila, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Political party People's Reform Party (2009-)
Lakas-CMD (2007-2009)
Liberal Party (1995-2007)
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (1992-1995)
Spouse(s) Julie Rose Tactacan-Defensor

Michael "Mike" Tan Defensor (born June 30, 1969) is a Filipino politician.

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, Ohio, USA. 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 and making him the youngest congressman of the 10th Congress. He won reelection in 1998.

Defensor distinguished himself as a leading member of the group of young legislators in the House. He was named one of the top 10 Legislators, New Millennium's Most Outstanding Solons and Most Consistent Outstanding Congressman for three consecutive years by the Gladiators Magazine and Congress Watch Magazine. Reelected in 1998, Defensor was voted by his party-mates as assistant minority floor leader of the Eleventh Congress.

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.

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.[1]

On October 9, 2008, Defensor was named acting chairman of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).[2][3]

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.

Controversy

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 P 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)."[4]

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

  • 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.[5]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Abs-Cbn Interactive, Arroyo appoints Mike Defensor as NAIA-3 task force head
  2. ↑ pia.gov.ph PGMA names Defensor, Quevedo and two others to important posts
  3. ↑ sunstar.com, Defensor is new PNR chief Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ abs-cbnnews.com, Defensor files perjury raps vs Lozada
  5. ↑ "AbsCbn, Defensor joins Petron board". Archived from the original on 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
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