BAGUIO CITY — The local government of Kalinga disclosed that it has logged zero election-related incidents ahead of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections slated on 30 October 2023.

According to Kalinga Provincial Police Office Information Officer Ruff Manganip, the peaceful atmosphere in the province is maintained by the traditional customs of the people from the different subtribes of Kalinga.

He stressed that their strong adherence to the "paniyaw", "ngilin" and "bain" keep the Kalingas from doing bad things during the elections.

"Paniyaw" is a trait in Kalinga where a should be responsible person must think of the consequences to the society and to everyone of a bad act before doing it therefore it must not be done.

"Ngilin", meantime, is the maintenance of good relationship of the people where it should be taboo to do bad things that would severe their relationships and will destroy the harmony of the community. "Bain" means the act of feeling ashame to hurt other people and their feelings and their respect to each other.

In Mountain Province and Benguet, the version of "Paniyaw" is "Inayan," where a person upholds virtue and not doing things that would bring negative impacts to everyone.

Manganip said that many of the candidates in Kalinga are relatives and families that is why they avoid having grudges because of elections.

However, he admitted that one barangay in the municipality of Lubuagan of Kalinga is considered as hot spot because of the ongoing tribal war.