MALACAÑAN PALACE (20 February 2023) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. led the Oath Taking Ceremony of Office of the officials of the Presidential Adviser on Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) here on Monday.

Those who took their oath of office for the OPAPRU were: Presidential Assistant I Isidro L. Purisima, Presidential Assistant I Arnulfo R. Pajarillo, Presidential Assistant I David B. Diciano, Executive Director IV Wilben M. Mayor, Executive Director IV Andres S. Aguinaldo Jr., Executive Director IV Susan Guadalupe H. Marcaida, Executive Director IV Cesar D. De Mesa

Formerly known as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the OPAPRU was created through Executive Order (EO) No. 158 signed in December 2021.

EO 158 renamed the OPAPP to OPAPRU and expanded its mandate. Aside from fulfilling the national government’s commitments to all signed peace agreements, it is also tasked to foster reconciliation and unity among the Filipino people.

The National Amnesty Commission (NAC) Commissioners led by NAC Chairperson Atty. Leah Tanodra-Armamento, and NAC’s commissioners Atty. Nasser Marohomsalic, and Atty. Jamar Kulayan took their oath of office during the event.

The commission is tasked to receive and process applications for amnesty submitted through the Local Amnesty Board, and determine whether the applicants are entitled to amnesty under Proclamation Nos. 1090, 1091, 1092, or 1093.

The said proclamations were concurred by both the House of Representatives (HoR) and the Senate on Jan 24, 2022, except for 1093 which were concurred by the HoR only.

The proclamations cover the applications for amnesty of members of rebel groups which include the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Rebolusyonaryong Partidong Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano Group (RPM-P/RPA/ABB-TPG) or KAPATIRAN.

In his speech, President Marcos emphasized the crucial role of the OPAPRU and NAC in helping to bring genuine peace and sustainable development to the country.

“The National Amnesty [Commission] and the OPAPRU work together to bring peace to our countryside. We in government know how important our work is. And that is why it is very important that you understand that we must work together. We are here to support the advocacies that our agencies represent,” the President said.

“Certainly, the peace process is important because without the peace process, progress will not be made,” he added.

Aside from OPAPRU and NAC, the President also led the oath-taking of the officials of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), and Marawi Compensation Board (MCB).

“These agencies are not terribly well known, but are extremely important to the function of this government,” the President said.

The President also challenged the government agencies to ensure all-encompassing and achieve inclusive peace and prosperity.

“Palagi kong sinasabi na marami tayong pinaplano na maganda para sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas. Ngunit kung hindi – sabihin na natin gumanda nang husto ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, hindi naman bumababa at hindi naman nararamdaman ng taong-bayan eh sayang lang ang ating naging trabaho. Iilan lang ang yumayaman,” he said.

“We are confident with the performance you will show after now that you have been official. I look forward to hearing from you as you get settled in your jobs,” he added.  ###