If the widowed remarries without having first formally notified the kin of his dead spouse of his intention, or if he scandalously has sexual intercourse, he commits adultery according to Ifugao law, and must pay the gibu luktap (see [sec. 75], [94]). As a matter of fact, I do not believe that this law is often enforced. The Ifugaos say that it was nearly always enforced before the establishment of foreign government.
If the widowed be a woman, both she and the man with whom she contracts a second marriage are responsible for the gibu payment. The payment as a matter of practice is always made by the man who marries her; but it is said that, should her second husband for any reason fail to pay, the widow would be held for the payment.
In the event of the birth of a bastard child to a surviving spouse, the gibu must be paid.
The following is an instance of the non-payment of this indemnity, and the sequelae:
Piniliu of Longa married the wife of Butlong, a deceased kinsman of Timbuluy, also of Longa. Piniliu did not come forward with the usual datok payment, notwithstanding the fact that it was repeatedly demanded of him.
Finally Piniliu went to Nueva Viscaya, and there bought a carabao. Timbuluy gathered his kin and met Piniliu when he was bringing back the carabao. About two miles before they reached their home village Timbuluy and his kin seized the animal, hamstringing and slaughtering it before Piniliu’s eyes.
The act of Timbuluy may very safely be said to have been justified by Ifugao custom, and so to have been legal.
The gibu is smaller if the second spouse taken be a kinsman or kinswoman of the first.
If the living spouse should not have furnished the animal required of him (see [sec. 13]) and a death blanket for the funeral of the dead spouse, the value of these things is added to the amount of the gibu.[7]