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In a sudden move during the semestral break, Alfred Anthony Trillanes, the University Student Government (USG) senator representing the School of Computing (SoC), has resigned his position from the student body. His resignation, effective on October 30, 2025, came about due to personal difficulties and inconsistencies surrounding the USG Senate.

In an email sent by the USG Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on October 31, 2025, Trillanes’ resignation was announced to various student organizations, publications, and student affairs authorities. Attached with this email was his personal resignation letter which was sent to the student organ the day before. The USG Senate made the announcement public on their Facebook page on November 3, 2025.

Resignation reasons

In his letter, Trillanes states that his decision to resign was because of difficulties balancing time for academic and personal commitments and for his responsibilities serving as senator. He adds that he had felt more like “a staff than a representative — often working without adequate support or collaboration.” Trillanes also cites in his letter that he found it challenging to follow the direction of USG Senate meetings due to a lack of structure and spontaneity. He states that this has made it difficult to stay engaged and clear on their shared objectives and to see the tangible impact of their initiatives as they only have limited student engagement.

He also writes that despite personal efforts, he had often found himself “working independently or seeing similar efforts reflected elsewhere without acknowledgment” and has also “grown concerned with the lack of consistency in [their] legislative procedures.” He specifies the repeated changes made to bill contents in first, second, and third readings even if other bills had already been passed using previously set criteria. He notes these inconsistencies to be “unfair, as it required continuous revisions to meet evolving expectations that were not initially part of the process.” Such irregularities have made it difficult for him to plan, coordinate, and sustain legislation, which also “took a toll on [his] mental wellbeing, as it caused [him] considerable amount of stress.” He feels that his efforts would be better directed elsewhere, even if he has always aimed to contribute meaningfully. 

Dynamics on the USG Senate

Trillanes also cites in his letter that he found it challenging to follow the direction of USG Senate meetings due to a lack of structure and spontaneity. In an exclusive interview, he adds that he had noticed that the effectiveness of representation depends not only on how well the structures are written but on how consistently they’re applied. “If rules and standards change frequently, it becomes harder for both senators and students to follow the process,” he says. He also highlights the lack of student engagement and awareness with the new constitution and its organs. He iterates, “Another challenge po is that many students are still unaware of the Constitution itself or the rights and services that already exist under it. Even when we publish copies or make information available, not all students have the time or interest to read it due to academic responsibilities.”

Additionally, Trillanes had mentioned in his letter that he had “observed that many of [their] legislative efforts tend to overlap the work already being done by other student organizations or offices.” Highlighting this, he says in the interview that there have been instances where the Senate had introduced measures which were already within the mandates of other institutions such as the Department of Human Resources in the executive branch, the Commission on Student Organizations (CSO), the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), and the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). These measures, he said, were made “without fully assessing whether these responsibilities are already being implemented or monitored elsewhere.” 

While expressing gratitude during his time in the Senate, Trillanes expresses a desire for consistency with regards to procedure within the student organ. “Respectfully po, I think the most important reform is consistency. There have been instances when one senator was warned for minor lapses, while others who were repeatedly inactive or absent were not called out, and that creates uneven accountability. It’s also important po that the readings of bills are done consistently. If data is required before the first reading, that rule should apply to all measures, not just to some,” he says. He believes that strengthening these internal processes, ensuring fairness, and grounding every bill on sound data would make the Senate “more effective, transparent, and sustainable.”

He also adds that the efficiency of the USG Senate would ultimately depend on balancing productivity and sustainability, as well as structure, workload distribution, and the culture of accountability. “When members are guided by clear rules, supported by proper systems, and treated fairly regardless of their workload or committee assignment, it creates a healthier environment where people can focus on meaningful legislative work while still maintaining their academic and personal responsibilities,” he says. 

Office in hindsight

Trillanes had been the lone candidate for the position of SoC senator during the 2025 HAUlalan elections, running on behalf of the SANLIYAB political party. He received 642 votes from the School of Computing, around 82% of those who voted from the department, and has served since March 2025.

In another interview with College Student Council – School of Computing (CSC-SoC) Governor Aerith Claude Catap, he expressed that the resignation came as a shock to himself and to the student council upon receiving the news. They had received Trillanes’ notice of resignation and his resignation letter via Outlook, which was sent to them by Mr. Paul Ernest Carreon, the Student Activities Coordinator.

Describing Trillanes’ contributions, Catap made note of their cooperation in advancing one of the CSC-SoC’s priority subjects in the USG Senate especially the Staff Empowerment and Mentorship Framework Act (Senate Bill 006). He iterates, “Alfred was very enthusiastic as well about pushing the other priority subjects that we have established. Knowing Alfred personally, siya rin yung person that would really advocate for these kinds of causes and alam ko rin personally na may passion rin siya to use his position and that platform to advocate for the needs of the SoC student body.” 

Trillanes had also shared his contributions to the Student Leaders Transition Training and Turnover Act (Senate Bill 003) and the Magna Carta for Student Leaders (Senate Bill 009), as well as being part of three (3) key committees involving rules, institutional effectiveness and human resources, and data privacy and technology. Even though he has stepped down, he said that he would continue to finish remaining planned focus group discussions and committee reports needed for Senate Bill 006. “I did my best to contribute through research, drafting, and consistency, focusing on measures that are grounded in data and designed to create meaningful and sustainable outcomes for the student body. I am sincerely grateful to the SoC department and to all the students who placed their trust in me to represent them in the Senate,” he says.

Senatorial succession

With Trillanes leaving, the HAUSG 2024 Constitution mandates the CSC-SoC governor  to nominate a senator who would serve for the remainder of the original term. Without elected candidates, the student council must first be consulted and their consultation must be mentioned in a letter of nomination for the new senator.

In finding a nominee for SoC senator, Catap says that they would be opening applications within the department for those who would be capable of succeeding Trillanes. “I think it’s best to consider na malawak yung SoC. It has 1500 students, and among those students there is someone who has the same conviction and the same skill to step up as the SoC senator. It’s also important for the council to screen them kung sino man yung mag-aapply para malaman namin if mase-serve ba talaga niya yung best interest ng SoC students,” he says. Catap says that they would also be finding from previous or other officers and student leaders who are eligible for the USG Senate should there be none who are willing to apply.

While the constitution prescribes no deadline for the nomination, the USG COMELEC has requested Catap to make a nomination on or before November 13, 2025 for the new SoC senator. “[The application] is on its way, probably after the holidays. We also understand the urgency of the matter, siyempre need din ng student representative sa Senate for their upcoming agenda,” he says.

The nominee must then be approved by the USG Senate by an absolute majority before they are formally appointed and take office. Their term would last until after the conclusion of the HAUlalan elections, which will be held on March 9 to 11, 2026.

by Clark Roque