From Magdalo to magturo: Trillanes set to teach at UP, Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines— After serving two terms at the Senate of the Philippines, former opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is now living a "more relaxed life" as he is set to teach at the University of the Philippines Diliman and Ateneo de Manila University.

"It’s a more relaxed life after the Senate and right now I’m preparing for my teaching work these coming semesters," Trillanes said on ANC's "Early Edition".

Trillanes said he would teach Public Policy in UP Diliman—he has a master's degree from the National College of Public Administration and Governance—while the specific courses that he would teach in Ateneo “are still being deliberated on.”

'Never not vulnerable'

Asked if he feels more vulnerable to legal actions lodged by the Duterte administration now that he is out of office, Trillanes, a known critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, said he “never felt not being vulnerable under this administration.”

"Since 2016, when Duterte assumed office, I already had, I think, 10 to 14 cases and counting. Whether I’m a senator or not, it didn’t stop Mr. Duterte from persecuting people like me from the opposition," Trillanes said.

Trillanes, Vice President Leni Robredo, and other opposition members including detained Sen. Leila De Lima and Sen. Risa Hontiveros now face sedition charges.

The former senator also faces another inciting to sedition case for his remarks against the president after the issuance of Proclamation 572 that declared Trillanes’ amnesty void from the beginning.

READ: Inciting to sedition trial vs Trillanes to proceed

Trillanes believes Duterte is behind the cases against him and others critical of the administration.

"Everything that’s happening that’s targeting the opposition Duterte would have a blessing, at the very least. And, in some instances, he’s the brains of such moves like when they canceled the amnesty that was given to me and they tried to have me arrested late last year," he said.

Trillanes said the government made similar moves against Sen. Leila De Lima, who is in police custody on drug-related cases.

"Duterte is very consistent. He needs to put away any semblance of opposition. That’s the only kind of governance that he thrives in,” he said. —Rosette Adel