Mike Defensor

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Mike Defensor

| image = Defensor-mike.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Official portrait, 2019

| office1 = Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Anakalusugan

| term_start1 = June 30, 2019

| term_end1 = June 30, 2022

| office2 = Malacañang Chief of Staff

| president2 = Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

| term_start2 = February 15, 2006

| term_end2 = February 10, 2007

| predecessor2 = Rigoberto Tiglao

| successor2 = Joey Salceda

| office3 = 28th Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources

| president3 = Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

| term_start3 = August 31, 2004

| term_end3 = February 15, 2006

| predecessor3 = Elisa Gozun

| successor3 = Angelo Reyes

| office4 = 1st Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council

| president4 = Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

| term_start4 = January 20, 2001

| term_end4 = June 30, 2004

| predecessor4 = Karina Constantino David

| successor4 = Noli de Castro

| office5 = Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Quezon City's 3rd district

| term_start5 = June 30, 1995

| term_end5 = January 20, 2001

| predecessor5 = Dennis Roldan

| successor5 = Maria Theresa Defensor

| office6 = Member of the Quezon City Council from the 3rd district

| term_start6 = June 30, 1992

| term_end6 = June 30, 1995

| birth_name = Michael Tan Defensor

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|6|30}}

| birth_place = Manila, Philippines

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = Filipino

| party = Reform PH (2024–present)
Anakalusugan (2019–present)

| otherparty = PFP (2021–2024)
PDP–Laban (2018–2021)
PRP (2009–2018)
Lakas–CMD (2007–2009)
Liberal (1995–2007)
LDP (1992–1995)

| spouse = Julie Rose Tactacan-Defensor

| relations =

| children = 5

| residence =

| alma_mater = University of the Philippines Diliman (BA, MPA)

| occupation = Politician

| signature =

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Michael Tan Defensor ({{IPA|tl|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 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.{{cite news|title=List of lawmakers who voted for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal |work=Philstar.com |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/07/10/2027049/list-lawmakers-who-voted-and-against-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal |date=July 10, 2020 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |last=Perez-Rubio |first=Bella}}{{cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1306531/defensor-denial-of-abs-cbn-franchise-not-death-penalty-only-life-imprisonment|title=Defensor: Denial of ABS-CBN franchise not 'death penalty,' only 'life imprisonment'|author=Neil Arwin Mercado|publisher=Inquirer.net|date=July 14, 2020}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://eboto.ph/candidate/mike-defensor/political?scrollto=candidate-info-tab|title=Michael "Mike" Defensor|website=eBoto|accessdate=August 2, 2022}} He received the Manuel Quezon Bantayog Award for Most Outstanding QC Councilor for the year 1994.{{cite news|last=Luna|first=Luis|title=Defensor eyes stepped-up drive vs drugs|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wIwmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fgsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3567%2C1944603|access-date=July 25, 2022|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corp.|date=April 17, 1995|page=6}}

=Congressman=

Defensor ran for congressman of the third district of Quezon City against reelectionist Dennis Roldan in the 1995 election, subsequently winning and becoming the youngest congressman at the time.{{cite news|last=Villanueva|first=Marichu A.|title=Defensor bolts Laban, joins Liberal Party|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J68mAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FAsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2727%2C3910657 |access-date=June 22, 2023|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corp.|date=June 28, 1995|page=19}} Though he ran under the party of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, he switched to the Liberal Party in June 1995, a month before the 10th Congress had convened. 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 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.[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=122210 Abs-Cbn Interactive, Arroyo appoints Mike Defensor as NAIA-3 task force head]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On October 9, 2008, Defensor was named acting chairman of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).[http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p081009.htm&no=18 pia.gov.ph PGMA names Defensor, Quevedo and two others to important posts][http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2008/10/09/news/defensor.is.new.pnr.chief.html sunstar.com, Defensor is new PNR chief] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014213456/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2008/10/09/news/defensor.is.new.pnr.chief.html |date=October 14, 2008 }}

=Senate candidacy=

Defensor was among the first to file for candidacy for the senate on February 12, 2007. Prior to filing, one of his campaign proposals was to temporarily release deposed former president Joseph Estrada from his arrest while his trial at the Sandiganbayan was ongoing, prompting criticism from prosecutors at the trial who called it a "politician's gimmick".{{cite news|title=Erap impeach prosecutors hit Defensor plan|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tlk1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=kSUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2742%2C19226520|access-date=June 27, 2023|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=January 22, 2007|page=A2}} 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.

Quezon City Mayoral Candidacy

In the 2022 Philippine general election, Defensor ran for Mayor of Quezon City under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP). However, the incumbent Mayor Joy Belmonte emerged victorious in the election.

=Representative for Anakalusugan=

File:BBM Uniteam rally Batasan Mike Defensor (IBP Road, Quezon City; 04-13-2022).jpg election rally in Batasan Hills, Quezon City]]

==Denial of the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN==

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[https://www.facebook.com/388689438381348/videos/282490456412046/ AnaKalusugan Partylist Cong. Mike Defensor's Video] 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 {{Philippine Peso|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.{{cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1310751/abs-cbn-property-takeover-sotto-says-private-property-is-charter-protected|title=ABS-CBN property takeover? Sotto says private property is Charter protected|author=Daphne Galvez|publisher=Inquirer.net|date=July 23, 2020|access-date=August 23, 2020}}

==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.{{Cite news |last=Luci-Atienza |first=Charissa |date=January 16, 2021 |title=Ok for Defensor to join Cayetano-led BTS sa Kongreso, says Rep. Romualdez |language=en |work=Manila Bulletin |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/16/ok-for-defensor-to-join-cayetano-led-bts-sa-kongreso-says-rep-romualdez/ |access-date=January 16, 2021}}

==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.{{Cite news |last=Mercado |first=Neil Arwin |date=April 27, 2021 |title=Defensor, Marcoleta to distribute Ivermectin 'to those in dire need of drug' |language=en |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1424405/defensor-marcoleta-to-distribute-ivermectin-to-those-in-dire-need-of-drug |access-date=May 5, 2021}}

=Controversies=

==Involvement in ZTE-NBN 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 {{Philippine Peso|50,000}} to change his statement that he was not kidnapped at 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)."[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=124144 abs-cbnnews.com, Defensor files perjury raps vs Lozada]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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{{Cite news |last=Hallare |first=Katrina |date=March 10, 2021 |title=Defensor replaced as House legislative franchises panel vice-chair |language=en |work=Inquirer.net |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1405420/defensor-replaced-as-house-legislative-franchises-panel-vice-chair |access-date=January 16, 2021}}
Chief Executive Officer, Pax Libera Mining
Chair, NiHAO Mineral Resources Inc. (mining company){{Cite news |date=August 7, 2008 |title=Two firms chaired by ex-DENR chief Defensor bag mining deals |work=ABS-CBN |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/08/07/08/two-firms-chaired-ex-denr-chief-defensor-bag-mining-deals |access-date=April 30, 2022}}
Chair, Geograce Resources Philippines (mining company)
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=101273|title=AbsCbn, Defensor joins Petron board|access-date=December 4, 2007|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070709212017/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=101273|archive-date=July 9, 2007|url-status=dead}}

Notes

References

[http://www.mikedefensor.com.ph/ Mike Defensor official website]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070329015927/http://www.mikedefensor.net/ Mike Defensor website]
[https://www.facebook.com/AnakalusuganPartylistCongMikeDefensor/ Mike Defensor Facebook website (for AnaKalusugan Partylist)]
[http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/eleksyon2007/candidates.php?name=Defensor,-Michael-(Tol) Profile of Michael T. Defensor]