Mohammad Ali Dimaporo

Mohammad Ali Borngao Dimaporo (June 15, 1918 – April 21, 2004) was a Filipino politician who represented the Lanao provinces in the House of Representatives of the Philippines from the 1950s to the 1990s and served as Governor of Lanao del Norte from 1960 to 1965 and of Lanao del Sur from 1976 to 1986. He was regarded as one of the most powerful Muslim politicians in the Philippines and one of the most important stalwarts of President Ferdinand Marcos in Mindanao during the martial law era.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Mohammad Ali Borngao Dimaporo was born on June 15, 1918, to Datu Dimaporo Marahom and Potri-Maamor Borngao Marahom in Binidayan, Lanao (now a part of Lanao del Sur). His father was the sultan of Binidayan and the town's president. Dimaporo was mostly raised by his grandparents.^[1]

Family and legacy

Dimaporo founded a political dynasty that continues to dominate politics in the two Lanao provinces. His son Abdullah Dimaporo, daughter-in-law Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo and grandson Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo have represented and governed Lanao del Norte since 1984, while his granddaughters Fatima Aliah Dimaporo and Sittie Aminah Dimaporo also represented Lanao del Norte in Congress. Abdullah married Imelda in 1977 despite Ali Dimaporo being a political rival of Imelda's father, Arsenio Quibranza.^[1]

Military service

Upon the outbreak of the Pacific theatre of the Second World War in December 1941, Dimaporo was drafted into the Philippine Army but was interned by the Japanese in Bukidnon in May 1942 following the American surrender. He was released in July 1942 after promising to assist in pacifying his fellow Maranaos but secretly assisted the guerrilla movement before taking up arms against the Japanese again in 1944. In June of that year, he led a guerrilla unit in raiding the town of Malabang, wiping out the Japanese garrison there.^[1]

Political career

Dimaporo started his political career by joining the Liberal Party and winning election in 1949 as representative of Lanao in the Philippine Congress. He lost reelection in 1953 to Domocao Alonto but won a recount six months before the next elections in 1957, by which time Alonto had already been elected to the Senate back in 1955. Dimaporo lost his reelection bid that November.^[1]

Martial law

Dimaporo distinguished himself during the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos by securing his victory in Lanao del Norte during the 1965 presidential election by a wide margin despite Dimaporo being a member of the Liberal Party of reelectionist President Diosdado Macapagal. Dimaporo remained loyal to Marcos even after his native region rebelled against the national government during the Moro conflict in the late 1960s and 1970s.^[1]

After Martial Law

During the 1986 People Power Revolution, armed supporters of Dimaporo forced the cancellation of a prayer rally in support of the revolt in Marawi on February 24, while he himself holed up in the MSU with his men pledging to "defend the campus from attack", resulting in a standoff that lasted until he left the university on March 1, by which time Marcos had already fled.^[1]

Death

Dimaporo died of natural causes at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City on April 21, 2004. His remains were flown back to Mindanao and he was buried in Binidayan the following day.^[1]