Dante C. Simbulan Sr. (born 3 May 1930)[1] is a Filipino educator, author, and former military officer best known for his influential role as a voice of social conscience for the generation of cadets who studied at the Philippine Military Academy in the days just prior to the beginning of the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos—an influence and reputation which led to his being held by the Marcos regime as a political prisoner at Camp Bonifacio and Camp Crame for more than two years without charges.[2] [3]
A World War II veteran who had resigned his commission and his Military Academy teaching post in the leadup to Martial Law, he went into exile for the rest of the Marcos administration. During his time as Military Academy instructor he became a strong influence on a number of cadets who would later play significant roles in Philippine history, including Victor Corpus and Crispin Tagamolila, who would later defect to the New People's Army; Rodolfo Biazon who would become Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff and later a two-term Philippine Senator.[4] [5]
Simbulan Sr. has authored several books on Philippine political history, including his memoir "Whose Side are We On?," which detailed the events leading up to the declaration of Martial Law from the perspective of a Philippine Military Academy insider;[6] and his 2005 book "The modern principalia: the historical evolution of the Philippine ruling oligarchy."[7] [8]