 On 15 June 1962, he was appointed as acting governor and on 27 July 1962 as governor replacing A.A. Baramuli.When North Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi became separate provinces, Tumbelaka became the first governor of North Sulawesi on 23 September 1964.Tumbelaka's efforts to broker peace between the Indonesian government and the Permesta movement began in October 1959 when he met with the commander of Kodam VIII / Brawijaya, Col. Surachman.