Michael Tan Defensor (Tagalog pronunciation:[dɪfɛnˈsɔɾ], born June 30, 1969) is a Filipino politician who most recently served as the Party-listRepresentative for Anakalusugan from 2019 to 2022. He is also the CEO of Pax Libera Mining, Inc.
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]
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.[6]
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".[9] 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.
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[10] 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 PresidentTito Sotto slammed the possible takeover of ABS-CBN by calling the compound as constitutionally protected.[11]
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.[13]
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.[17]