[2] Further southeast [of Shahuagong] there are uncultivated islands inhabited by barbarian bandits called Maluonu.

The deeper one goes into these islands, the more cruel the bandits are.Eventually, the Lanao nation fell under the power of the Maguindanao Sultanate.

The lords of Bayabao, Masiu, Unayan, and Baloi seceded from the Maguindanao Sultanate in 1616.

The area was divided into Four Principalities of Lanao or the Pat a Pangampong a Ranao which are composed of a number of royal houses (Sapolo ago Nem a Panoroganan or The Sixteen (16) Royal Houses) with specific territorial jurisdictions within mainland Mindanao.

This decentralized structure of royal power in Lanao was adopted by the founders, and maintained up to the present day, in recognition of the shared power and prestige of the ruling clans in the area, emphasizing the values of unity of the nation (kaiisaisa o bangsa), patronage (kaseselai) and fraternity (kapapagaria).