IN THE KNOW: Dimaporos of Lanao

The Dimaporos of Lanao have been in power for the past 60 years.

Mohammad Ali Dimaporo was a known ally of former President Ferdinand Marcos. A guerrilla fighter during World War II, Ali went into politics after the war and represented the then undivided Lanao in Congress in the 1950s.

He was Lanao del Norte representative from 1966 to 1972, and Lanao del Sur congressman from 1987 to 1995. He was also governor of Lanao del Sur from 1960 to 1965.

Despite the Jabidah Massacre in 1968, where several Muslims recruited for a mission to invade Sabah were killed in a massacre on Corregidor Island, Ali remained loyal to Marcos and was appointed governor of Lanao del Sur in 1976.

Ali’s son Abdullah followed in his footsteps in the 1980s. Abdullah represented Lanao del Norte’s 2nd district from 1987 to 1989, and from 2001 to 2010.

In last May’s midterm elections, Abdullah won a seat in the House, again representing the second district of Lanao del Norte.

Abdullah’s wife Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo is serving her second term as representative of the first district of Lanao del Norte.

Their daughter Fatima Aliah was representative of Lanao del Norte’s second district from 2010 to 2013.

Their son Khalid is serving his third term as Lanao del Norte governor. Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives, congress.gov.ph