Who is Sonny Trillanes?

Antonio Fuentes Trillanes IV, or Sonny to his relatives and friends, was born and raised in Caloocan City. He traces his roots to Ligao, Albay in Bicol where his late father, Antonio Sr., grew up. His mother, Estelita, hails from the province of Capiz.

He studied at De La Salle University in Manila where he took up BS ECE from 1987 to 1991.

He formally entered into public service in 1991 as a cadet in the Philippine Military Academy where he graduated Cum Laude in 1995.

In 2002, Sonny took up graduate studies at the University of the Philippines and got his master’s degree in Public Administration major in Public Policy and Program Management. For the duration of his master’s program, he received two University Scholar Awards for obtaining two semestral GPAs of 1.0 to 1.25.

In 2015 and 2014, he finished the Leadership in Development and the National and International Security Programs, respectively, at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

After graduating from PMA, Sonny went through all shipboard assignments starting from Mess & Supply Officer, and, ultimately as Acting Commanding Officer of a patrol gunboat.

During his five-year sea duty experience, his unit apprehended dozens of smugglers, illegal loggers, poachers, human smugglers and illegal fishermen in numerous maritime law enforcement operations conducted in the waters of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Scarborough, Palawan, Batanes, and the Visayas.

One of the highlights of his military profession was the daring search and rescue operation for the survivors of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Orient at the height of a super typhoon in 1998. For this act of risking their own lives in the fulfillment of their duty, Sonny and his unit managed to rescue thirty-two (32) survivors.

He was also involved in numerous naval operations in support of ground operations directed against the Abu Sayyaf and other lawless elements.

As procurement officer of the Naval Training and Education Command, Philippine Navy, Sonny reformed the procurement system, which resulted to millions of pesos of savings in favor of the government.

For his meritorious service to his country, Sonny has been awarded a total of 23 assorted merit medals, campaign ribbons and badges.

Sonny, thereafter, became widely known for his prominent role in the uprisings directed against the oppressive Arroyo regime which put him in jail for 7½ years. In 2007, he ran and won as senator while in detention, the first and only national candidate to achieve such feat. He is the youngest ever elected senator, at the age of 35, under the 1987 Constitution.

As a Senator from 2007 to 2019, Sonny advocated for measures on peace and order, anti-corruption, and poverty alleviation. He served as Chairman of various committees such as the Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, the National Defense and Security, the Congressional Oversight Committee on the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, Congressional Oversight Committee on the AFP Modernization Act, the Select Oversight Committee on Intelligence and Confidential Funds, and the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement.

After his 12-year stint as a Senator, Sonny was officially recognized by the Philippine Senate for having the most number of national bills passed into law as principal author and principal sponsor. He filed a total of 1,490 bills and resolutions. Of these, 98 were passed into law. Foremost of which are the: AFP Modernization Law; Philippine Baselines Law; Salary Standardization Law 3; National Health Insurance Act; Immediate Release of Retirement Benefits of Government Employees; Magna Carta of the Poor; Institutionalized Pantawid Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act; Magna Carta for Disabled Persons; Expanded Senior Citizens Act; Anti-Bullying Act; and Increase in Subsistence Allowance for Soldiers and Policemen.

Sonny remains the Chairman of the Magdalo Party. He has also entered the academe as Professor of Praxis at the Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo De Manila University, and Professorial Lecturer at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance, teaching subjects on Governance and Public Policy.

Personal

Date of Birth 06 August 1971
Hometown Caloocan City
Spouse Arlene Orejana Trillanes
Children Francis Seth O. Trillanes
Thea Estelle O. Trillanes
Alan Andrew O. Trillanes (deceased)

Education

Post Graduate

National and International Security Program Harvard Kennedy School – 2014
Master of Public Administration major in Public Policy and Program Management University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 2002-2005

AWARDS: Two (2) University Scholar Awards (GPA 1.0-1.25)
College Scholar Award (GPA 1.25-1.50)

College

BS ECE (4th year)
De La Salle University, Manila 1987-1991
BS Naval Systems Engineering
Philippine Military Academy 1991-1995
AWARDS: Cum Laude
Mathematics Plaque
Physical Sciences Plaque

Tambuli Award
(Electrical/Electronics Engineering)

Secondary

Angelicum School, Quezon City 1983-1987

Elementary

Sienna College, Quezon City 1975-1983

Professional Experience

Senator, Republic of the Philippines

2013-2019

  • Chairman of the Committee on National Defense and Security
  • Chairman of the Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation
  • Chairman of the Congressional Oversight Committee on The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010
  • Chairman of the Congressional Oversight Committee on the AFP Modernization Act
  • Chairman of the Select Oversight Committee on Intelligence and Confidential Funds
  • Chairman of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement

2007-2010

  • Chairman of the Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization
  • Chairman of the Committee on Amateur Sports Competitiveness
  • Chairman of the Senate Select Oversight Committee on Government Procurement
  • Chairman of the Committee on Amateur Sports Competitiveness
  • Chairman of the Senate Select Oversight Committee on Government Procurement

Philippine Navy Officer

Junior Billet/ Sea Duty Assignments

  • April 1995 – February 1999
  • Executive Officer, Patrol Gunboat
  • February 1999 – January 2000
  •  Acting Commanding Officer, Patrol Gunboat
  • June 1999 – January 2000

Administrative / Personnel Officer (P1), HQ Patrol Force

  • June 1999 – January 2000
  • Procurement Officer / Instructor
  •  Naval Education and Training Command
  •  January 2000 – June 2001