Chronicle of a Dictatorship Unleashed

Retired Navy Capt. Danilo Vizmanos’ recently-launched Martial Law Diary and other papers contains accounts, observations and comments on significant happenings during the early and critical stage of martial law.    The book exposes in depth the true orientation of the armed forces and its reliance on U.S. military support.

By Ronalyn V. Olea
Bulatlat.com

At 74, retired Navy Capt. Danilo Vizmanos is still waging a war against what he calls public amnesia and apathy.

Ka Dan, as colleagues in the people’s movement call him, launched his second book Martial Law Diary and Other Papers on the eve of the 31^st anniversary of martial law at the Popular Bookstore in Quezon City.

His non-conventional diary contains accounts, observations and comments on significant happenings during the early and critical stage of martial law.   

The former inspector general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who used to revere General Douglas McArthur like Jesus Christ made a 180-degree turn when military rule reigned over the civilian population.  

He resigned from military service because of ‘incompatibility with an armed forces that was converted into a huge private army and oppressive instrument of the Marcos dictatorship.’

Unlike Lt. Crispin Tagamolila and then Lt. Victor Corpus, who raided the Philippine Military Academy armory in 1971 and defected to the New People’s Army (NPA), Ka Dan only had his thesis on the People’s Republic of China to make him controversial and unwanted by high-ranking AFP officers.  Among his recommendations included the Philippine government’s recognition of the People’s Republic of China and abrogation of RP-U.S. Military Bases Agreement and all other ‘unfair’ treaties with the U.S. government.

Not only was he not awarded a diploma at the National Defense College, and denied a high military post.  From then on until his arrest in 1974, he was also put under surveillance.

He was detained for two years without charges. 

Déjà vu 

Attended by more than 150 activists of old and younger generations, the launch also served as a venue to commemorate the dark days of the dictatorship and assess the current political situation.

The author himself, in his preface to the book, noted the alarming revival of the excesses and abuses of the ‘New Society’ that were supposed to have disappeared with the downfall of the conjugal dictatorship. 

Ka Dan also said that the architects and executors of martial law regime are emboldened to use their hidden and unexplained wealth in their bid for political power at the highest level of state hierarchy through the 2004 elections.

In an interview with Bulatlat.com, Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo said there is a parallelism between the pre-Martial Law era and the present situation. 

Ocampo, also a former political prisoner, said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, like Marcos, is extremely isolated from the people.

“The Macapagal-Arroyo government is also under siege,” said Ocampo.

Ocampo, however, cited a difference, “Mas militante at mas mahaba na ang karanasan ng mamamayan sa paglaban.” 

Ocampo, who wrote the book’s foreword, said Ka Dan’s diary is a source of not only information but also deeper understanding about the early stage of martial law. 

Ocampo said the book exposes in depth the true orientation of the armed forces and its reliance on U.S. military support.

Luis Teodoro, University of the Philippines journalism professor, said, “The possibility of the restoration of martial rule is always there.”  “More and more journalists are being killed,” he said.  “The present situation is the most critical since 1972.”

 “There is also an upsurge of democratic actions,” Teodoro added.  “Like what Satur said, we must be prepared for any eventuality.”

Meanwhile, Ka Dan almost missed his lunch.  It took him about an hour to sign autographs for others like him who refuse to be engulfed by public amnesia and apathy. Bulatlat.com 

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