Enrile questions Defensor's presence at MMDA meeting; Mike says he was asked for inputs

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile has questioned the presence of former Anakalusugan party-list Representative Michael Defensor at a meeting of officials of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

According to Mark Salazar’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, Enrile warned against “carelessly showing an arrogance of power in our behavior as public persons” especially for people with close ties to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“What was Mike Defensor doing in that picture of the official function of Metro Manila Development Authority that was published in social media? Was he an official, a consultant, an adviser, a factotum of some sort of MMDA? He was a candidate and loser in the last election, wasn't he?  What was he in that picture? The boss of MMDA?  Enrile wrote on his Facebook page.

“Is that now a proper decorum in our current political world? I suggest we should be very careful in not carelessly showing an arrogance of power in our behavior as public persons, especially if we are somewhat identified with the current regime. Please ladies and gentlemen be careful! The public is watching,” he added.

Enrile said that as chief counsel of the President, he had a “legal and moral duty to protect Marcos from those who tend to take undue advantage of his kindness” and their “seeming closeness to him.”

In response, Defensor said he had spoken with Enrile to clarify his presence at the MMDA meeting.

“Klinaro ko kay Manong Johnny kung ano ang naging participation ko during that meeting. First of all, I’m not an official, I'm not a consultant at hindi ako nagho-hold ng office sa MMDA. That is prohibited by law,” Defensor said.

(I explained to Manong Johnny what my participation was during that meeting. First of all, I'm not an official, I'm not a consultant and I don't hold an office in the MMDA. That is prohibited by law)

“Nagkataon lang, doon sa meeting na ‘yun, ang pinaguusapan ay balik-eskwela. Because of my experience in the past, nung ako'y Chief of Staff, parati naming ginagawa ang balik-eskwela program," he added.

(It so happened that the meeting was regarding balik-eskwela. Because of my experience in the past, when I was Chief of Staff, we always held the balik-eskwela program.)

Defensor said there was no order from Marcos for him to be at the MMDA meeting. He, however, said the President earlier asked that they help the government in their “private ways.”

“Minabuti ng aking kaibigan at chairman ngayon ng MMDA na si Chairman Engr. Dimayuga, na mag-input ako sa pag-uusap… Wala akong suweldo diyan kahit singko at patuloy akong tumutulong kahit anong ahensya ng gobyerno,” Defensor said.

(My friend and current chairman of MMDA, Chairman Engr. Dimayuga asked me to have some inputs at the meeting... I don't have a salary there but I will continue to help no matter what government agency.)

MMDA chairman Carlo Dimayuga said Defensor had no official function at the agency. He said he only invited the former congressman to ask for advice about the traffic problem and programs related to the reopening of classes.

The Malacañang said it had no comment on the matter. —Mel Matthew Doctor/NB, GMA News