Mike Defensor
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Tan Defensor (born June 30, 1969) is a Filipino
politician.
He finished elementary, Bachelor of Arts in History, and Masters in Public Administration
at the University of the Philippines
. He finished his secondary education at Miles McKinley High School, Ohio, USA. he is married to Julie Rose Tactacan Defensor.
councilor in the 1992 elections at the age of 23, making him the youngest member of that body.
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.
of the House of Representatives
that spearheaded the filing of the impeachment case against then-president Joseph Estrada
.
. 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.
Michael Defensor is the newly appointed (June 19, 2008) 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.
On October 9, 2008, Defensor was named acting chairman of the Philippine National Railways
(PNR).
as his campaign manager.
After a wing of the Liberal Party (the Drilon bloc) broke ranks to support the call for Arroyo to step down, Defensor along with Manila mayor Lito Atienza threw their support for the president.
While in the executive branch of government, Defensor has a knack for ending up in key departments that end up being strongly promoted by the administration. He led HUDCC while the administration was very focused on housing. He also led DENR while the administration was pushing for mining projects.
While known to be a close Arroyo ally, he has also been known to shown "independence" among the President's circle, taking a different stand on some issues, like the Charter Change, saying that "Moves to amend the Constitution before the May 2007 elections would be courting disaster."
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)."
(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.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
politician.
He finished elementary, Bachelor of Arts in History, and Masters in Public Administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
. He finished his secondary education at Miles McKinley High School, Ohio, USA. he is married to Julie Rose Tactacan Defensor.
Quezon City councilor
Defensor was elected as a Quezon CityQuezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
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 CityQuezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
in the 1995 election
Philippine general election, 1995
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 8, 1995. Filipinos protected the ballot boxes with their lives and campaigned against traditional politicians who used bribery, flying voters, violence, election rigging, stealing of ballot boxes and etc...
, subsequently winning and making him the youngest congressman of the 10th Congress
10th Congress of the Philippines
The Tenth Congress of the Philippines is the current meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives.-Sessions:...
. 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 BoysSpice Boys (Congressmen)
The Spice Boys were six thirtysomething neophyte and two-term congressmen of the House of Representatives of the Philippines openly critical of the administration during Joseph Estrada's term as President of the Philippines. The group's name is an allusion to the British girl-group, the Spice Girls...
of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
that spearheaded the filing of the impeachment case against then-president Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
.
Cabinet
After Edsa II,Defensor was appointed as Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council by President Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
. 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
Philippine general election, 2004
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 10, 2004. The major coalitions that participated are the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan composed of parties that support the candidacy of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino ,...
, 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.
Michael Defensor is the newly appointed (June 19, 2008) head of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA , also known as Manila International Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area...
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.
On October 9, 2008, Defensor was named acting chairman of the Philippine National Railways
Philippine National Railways
The Philippine National Railways , or PNR, is a state-owned railway company in the Philippines, operating a single line of track on Luzon. As of 2010, it operates one commuter rail service in Metro Manila and a second in the Bicol Region. PNR restored its intercity service to the Bicol region in 2011...
(PNR).
Senate candidacy
Defensor was among first to file for candidacy for the senate on February 12, 2007. He employed a popular gossip show host Boy AbundaBoy Abunda
Eugenio "Boy" R. Abunda, Jr. is a Filipino television host, publicist, talent manager and celebrity endorser. He is dubbed as the "King of Talk" in local show business.-Early life:Boy Abunda was born in Borongan City, Eastern Samar...
as his campaign manager.
Reputation
Defensor is known to be one of President Arroyo's most vocal supporters. He lobbied the Liberal Party to support Arroyo in the 2004 elections.After a wing of the Liberal Party (the Drilon bloc) broke ranks to support the call for Arroyo to step down, Defensor along with Manila mayor Lito Atienza threw their support for the president.
While in the executive branch of government, Defensor has a knack for ending up in key departments that end up being strongly promoted by the administration. He led HUDCC while the administration was very focused on housing. He also led DENR while the administration was pushing for mining projects.
While known to be a close Arroyo ally, he has also been known to shown "independence" among the President's circle, taking a different stand on some issues, like the Charter Change, saying that "Moves to amend the Constitution before the May 2007 elections would be courting disaster."
Controversy
Mike Defensor, on July 4, 2008 filed 6-page perjuryPerjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
lawsuit Friday versus Rodolfo Noel Lozada
Rodolfo Noel Lozada
Rodolfo Noel I. Lozada, Jr., CEO of the Philippine Forest Corporation, surfaced at the La Salle Greenhills campus early morning today and implicated former Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in the anomalous ZTE deal.Lozada is an electronics and...
for "testifying under oath
Oath
An oath is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow...
that he had paid Lozada P 50,000 to change his statement that he was not kidnapped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA , also known as Manila International Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area...
(NAIA) when he arrived from Hong Kong at the height of the Philippine National Broadband Network controversy
Philippine National Broadband Network controversy
The Philippine National Broadband Network controversy involved allegations of corruption in the awarding of a US$329 million construction contract to Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE for the proposed government-managed National Broadband Network .The contract with ZTE was signed on April 20,...
(ZTE
ZTE
ZTE Corporation formerly Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation is a Chinese multinational telecommunications equipment and systems company headquartered in Shenzhen, China...
Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited scandal)."
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 CorporationPetron Corporation
Petron Corporation is the largest oil refining and marketing company in the Philippines, supplying more than a third of the country’s oil requirements....
(with former budget secretary Emilia Boncodin). Defensor had been frequenting Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
. 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
United Coconut Planters Bank
The United Coconut Planters Bank, more popularly known by its initials, UCPB, or by its old name, Cocobank, is one of the largest banks in the Philippines, ranking within the top twenty banks in the Philippines in terms of assets. The bank, owing to its name, caters heavily to coconut farmers, but...
. Defeated administration candidate, former senator Ralph Recto
Ralph Recto
Ralph Gonzalez Recto is a Filipino politician. Recto served as a member of the House of Representatives representing the 4th District of Batangas from 1992 to 2001. He was then elected to the Senate, serving from 2001 to 2007. In 2007, Recto run for reelection and lost because, as many analysts...
joined the board of Union Bank
Union Bank
Union Bank was established in 1991 and had its headquarters in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Prior to the merger with Standard Chartered Bank , it was Pakistan's eighth largest bank and had 65 branches in some 22 cities, about US$2 billion in assets, and about 400,000 customers.In 2006, Standard...
, controlled by the Aboitiz family.