The College of Engineering (COE) Student Council of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) has declared its opposition to what it described as the “sanitization of tyranny” and historical distortion, saying future engineers must understand that technical progress cannot be separated from human rights, accountability and democratic governance.

In an official statement issued following the retraction of its previous publication amid concerns raised by members of the community, the COE Student Council said its training as future engineers and technocrats demands not only precision and rigorous analysis but also an “uncompromising commitment to public safety and human welfare.”

The council likened society to an engineered structure, warning that just as a structure built on a compromised foundation is bound to collapse, a society that ignores structural flaws, systemic corruption and abuses of the past risks its own ruin.

The student council said it stands for human rights, systemic accountability, justice and democratic governance, which it described as non-negotiable principles that should not be compromised for political convenience or historical revisionism.

It specifically described the Martial Law era and the Marcos regime as a “dark chapter” marked by state-sanctioned plunder, widespread human rights violations and institutional decay.

The council also rejected forms of commemoration that, it said, gloss over abuses during the period.

“To engineer a progressive future, we flatly refuse the sanitization of tyranny,” the statement said, arguing that historical awareness must be accompanied by moral clarity.

It further said technology and infrastructure lose their fundamental purpose when used to oppress, distract or enrich those in power at the expense of marginalized communities.

The council emphasized that technological advancement should remain anchored in human dignity and civil liberties, while warning that unchecked power presents a “severe systemic hazard.”

It called for transparency and accountability at all levels of government and condemned what it described as abuses of authority, censorship and historical distortion.

The council also urged engineering students to look beyond equations and technical designs, saying professional excellence should include social consciousness and a commitment to upholding the rule of law.

It described human rights as “absolute structural load-bearing walls” that should never be compromised under any administration.

The statement ended with the council declaring that it would continue to defend the public interest and hold those in power accountable.

“Never again to injustice. Never again to the violation of human rights,” the council said.

The statement was issued on Marcos Day, observed every Sept. 11 in connection with the birth anniversary of the late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.

Meanwhile, former COE Student Council adviser Jorge Dela Cruz Escalona questioned the use of the council’s official Facebook page for the statement, saying the platform carries an institutional identity and could lead the public to interpret the views expressed as representing the entire student body.

Escalona said the Student Council should ensure that its official communications reflect genuine student representation rather than the personal sentiments of individuals, stressing the need for accountability, neutrality and responsible use of the organization’s platforms.