Michael Defensor
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2006–2007 |
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2004–2006 |
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2001–2004 |
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2001–2004 |
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1995–2001 |
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1992–2005 |
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| Political Party: | Lakas-CMD (2007 to date) Liberal Party (Atienza Wing) (2005 to date) Liberal (1992-2005) |
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| Born: | January 05, 1969 Manila |
| Spouse: | Rose Tactacan-Defensor |
Michael "Mike" Tan Defensor is a Filipino politician currently running for the Senate. Defensor was born on June 30, 1969. 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.
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[edit] Political career
[edit] 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.
[edit] Congressman
During the the 1995 elections, he decided to run for Congressman of the third district of Quezon City and subsequently winning and making him the youngest Congressman of the 10th Congress.[citation needed]
He won reelection in 1998. Defensor soon 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.[citation needed]
[edit] Estrada Impeachment
He was part of the Spice Boys of the House of Representatives that spearheaded the filing of the impeachment case against then-president Joseph "Erap" Estrada.[citation needed]
[edit] Cabinet
After Edsa Dos, he was brought by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Malacanang, Defensor was appointed as Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. He held the said post until August 2004 when he was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. During the 2004 Presidential elections, he served as the official campaign spokesperson of President Macapagal-Arroyo. After his tenure as DENR Secretary he was appointed Presidential Chief of Staff until February 10, 2007 when he resigned to campaign in his quest to become a Senator.
[edit] Senate Candidacy
Mr. Defensor was one of the first persons to file for candidacy on 12 February 2007. He is employing a popular gossip show host, Boy Abunda, as his campaign manager. Mr. Defensor is packaging himself as the approachable brother using a popular monicker 'Tol.
[edit] Reputation
He is known to be one of Mrs. Arroyo's most vocal supporters. He lobbied the Liberal Party to support Mrs. Arroyo in the 2004 elections.
After a wing of the Liberal Party (the Drilon bloc) broke ranks to support the call of the Hyatt 10 for Mrs. Arroyo to step down, Mr. Defensor along with Manila mayor Lito Atienza threw their support for the president.
While in the Executive Branch of government, Mr. 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.
Disturbingly, he has brokered for some projects while still a department secretary. One such project was the Masinloc Power Plant sale to YNN Pacific.
He is viewed by some as the administration's favorite candidate and the Filipino electorate are starting to realize that a vote for him is also a vote for Ms. Arroyo.
[edit] 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)
[edit] 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
