Defensor replaced as House legislative franchises panel vice-chair

MANILA, Philippines — Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor on Tuesday lost his leadership post as vice-chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Legislative Franchises to a member of the majority.

Defensor was replaced by Zamboanga Sibugay 1st District Rep. Wilter “Sharky” Wee Palma II. Palma was then removed as Deputy Majority Leader.

Replacing Palma as Deputy Majority Leader is Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor.

Quezon City 1st District Rep. Anthony Peter “Onyx” Crisologo was then removed as Assistant Majority Leader, and was replaced by Palawan 3rd District Rep. Gil Acosta.

Crisologo, however, was elected vice-chairman of the House games and amusements committee.

Also part of the shake-up was Duterte Youth Rep. Ducielle Marie Cardema, as she is now a member of the House appropriations committee.

And COOP-NATCCO party-list Rep. Sabiniano Canama was elected as a member of the House cooperative development panel.

To recall, the House legislative franchises panel denied broadcast giant ABS-CBN a fresh franchise. Defensor was one of the 70 lawmakers who voted to adopt the technical working group’s (TWG) report recommending the denial of the network’s franchise application.

JE