In the 1960s and 1970s, two significant insurgent groups emerged in the Philippines: the
Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), led by
Nur Misuari and advocating for Moro
self-determination, and the
New People's Army (NPA), which sought to establish a communist government. The administration of
President Ferdinand Marcos started negotiations with the MNLF which led to the signing of the
Tripoli Agreement in 1976. This led to a plebiscite where people voted whether to approve or disapprove the establishment of an autonomous region in the southern Philippines. Both the voters and the MNLF, which viewed the implementation of the agreement as one-sided in favor of the government, rejected the plebiscite. No negotiations were made with the NPA under Marcos and the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) subsequently split from the MNLF. The first head of agency is
Manuel Yan with the rank of cabinet Secretary. Secretary Yan served for seven years under this position. The agency was renamed to
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on December 29, 2021. == List of Head of Agency==