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.

No negotiations was made with the NPA under Marcos and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) broke away from the MNLF.

[3] Aquino's successor, President Fidel V. Ramos upon being elected in 1994 started negotiations with the NDF in the Netherlands and issued Proclamation No.

10-A which established the National Unification Commission (NUC) which made a report regarding the "formulation of a peace process" by conducting public consultations in different parts of the country to gain input.