He was elected as Senator in 1969 but he was unable to finish his term because President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law.

During the martial law years, he went on self-exile to Saudi Arabia staying there until 1986, when Marcos was ousted by the People Power Revolution.

He was the principal author of Republic Act 6848, which provided for the charter of the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines.

In the 1992 elections, he sought reelection as senator under the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino ticket, but lost.

Senator Tamano was married to Haji Putri Zorayda Abbas with whom he had nine children, including Atty.