‘Nu pangabaken tayo ket kwarta, ipu-push tayo ti politicians nga agkurakot’ – Congressman-aspirant Gumilab to voters

Tabuk City, Kalinga—Reacting to the notion that only politicians with money will win the elections, Tinglayan Mayor and Congressman-aspirant Sacrament Gumilab emphasized that those who spend a lot during the campaign have a higher chance of corrupting public funds when elected.

Eliciting the thoughts of the May 2025 political aspirants on the perception created over the past years that one must have resources or money to win in politics, GURU Press Cordillera raised the matter during the Question-and-Answer portion of the Candidate Forum on April 4 at the Tabuk City Hall.

Mayor Gumilab responded to the question where he admitted being constantly told ‘kasano ka nga mangabak nu awan met kwartam’.

Unshaken by the impression he’s behind his opponents in the congressional race because he does not have money, Gumilab expressed that when voters require money from a political candidate in exchange for his or her vote, that voter is pushing the politician to graft and corruption.

“Nu kasta ti aramiden tayo nga iti pangabaken tayo ket kuwarta, ipu-push tayo ti politicians nga agkurakot ta siyempre nu permi ti gastos ket agsubli latta (bawien da gastos da) ket kaasi ti ili tayo. Isu nga the more nga adu ti gastusen ti politician, the more nga prone isuna iti corruption,” he explained.

Gumilab further expressed that if money is the basis of credibility for an elected position, then it defeats the very purpose of telling the younger generation to study well to serve and lead Kalinga to progress in the future.

“Kasi nu kuwarta lang iti basis tayo nga mangipangabak ti mangi-linteg ken datayo, nga mangi-daulo ken datayo, anya ngay garud ti serserbi na nga napan tayo nagis-iskwela ngay? Apay nga ibaga tayo ti ubbing tayo nga ipapati yo nga agiskwekla ta nu makalpas kayo ket agsubli kayo nga agserbi iti ili. Awan serbi na e (nu kwarta-kwarta met lang gayam amin),” he pointed out.

‘Nangabak tayo latta met uray awan kwarta tayo’

Gumilab still believes that even when a candidate has no large resources, he or she can still win the elections as long as they have the credibility, integrity, and the will and heart to serve the public. He recounted his own experience when he first ran for mayor in Tinglayan and the people voted for him in spite of not having enough resources. 

“Uray siyak idi first time ko nga nag-mayor idiay Tinglayan, kasta latta iti challenge, ngem nagbotos iti taga Tinglayan, nangabakak latta met uray awan kuwarta tayo,” he exampled.

Amid the impression he won’t win because he has no money, Gumilab expressed he has faith in the Kalinga voters, especially the young people and the professionals, that they won’t get swayed by money.

“Mamati ak latta nga adu latta met ti taga Kalinga nga napintas ti ikasta da nga agpili. Ag-base da iti anya ba talaga iti mayat nga mapan ti daytoy nga posisyon,” Gumilab conveyed.