Metro Manila, Philippines — The German Embassy in Manila marked the 52nd anniversary of Martial Law with a call for vigilance against attempts to distort history, warning that such efforts could pave the way for authoritarianism.
In a statement released on Saturday, September 21, German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Pfafernöscke urged Filipinos to honor the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom and democracy during the Martial Law years.
“The distortion of history can pave the way for the return of authoritarianism and the erosion of human rights. It is through a clear understanding of our past that we can build a better future,” Pfafernöscke said.
Germany also expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Philippines to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
“By upholding historical accuracy and promoting human rights, we can create a more just and equitable world for all,” the ambassador added.
Human rights remain a concern
In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, Pfafernöscke noted some improvements in the human rights situation under the Marcos administration but emphasized that more work is needed.
“We remain concerned about the human rights situation. There are improvements compared to the previous administration. The war on drugs, at least as an official government policy, is over. But we still see a much too high number of extrajudicial killings,” Pfafernöscke said.
The German envoy expressed hope for greater accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
“The human rights situation remains a concern for us. The government is saying the right things, and we believe the judicial system is slowly but steadily working toward accountability. There has been some progress, but it needs to be faster. There’s still much room for improvement,” Pfafernöscke said.
