DOJ chief gets more flak for remark on Campbell

"What's wrong with what I said? You try going to Ifugao alone," Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said in a radio interview on Monday. "Is that not something careless on the part of Campbell to walk alone at a lonely mountain site, despite advisories from foreign governments not to go to some places alone?" Despite getting flak, Gonzalez stuck to his remark last Thursday on American Peace Corp volunteer Julia Campbell, who was killed while hiking in a mountain trail in Banaue, Ifugao, alone. But readers of GMANews.TV, who continued sending their own reactions on the matter, think Gonzalez's remark, even if he had a point, was insensitive. Following are some of the latest comments:

"It's not a question of whether he has a point or not. Tactless people have no right to occupy a leadership position." - Bing V from Muntinlupa City (received April 21, 2007, 1:54 a.m.) "For God sakes, he is a Justice Secretary. What was he thinking? Does he have any feelings at all Did he know what the implication would be? This insensitive comment only fueled the pain being experienced by the grieving Campbell family. Saying such callous remarks on national TV has embarrased the government, fellow filipinos, and his own family as well. The man is a national disgrace. Time to apologise or time to go, Mr. Gonzales." - "Jake" of Sydney, Australia (April 22, 2007, 11:23 a.m.) "Secretary Gonzalez' remarks are insensitive, ignorant, and inaccurate. He needs to explain his comments and he needs to apologize, not only to Julia Campbell and her family, but to women everywhere. Is he saying that it is unsafe to travel to Banaue? Maybe tourists should avoid that area until he apologizes. I know that I have decided not to take my annual trip to the Philippines this year. I do not think it is safe. If Mr. Gonzalez will not apologize, then he needs to resign or to be fired. He is no longer an asset to the Filipino people." - Stan Lloyd of Concord, New Hampshire, USA (April 21, 2007, 7:01 a.m.) "The things he said about Julia Campbell as being careless for going to that place alone is not the right thing to say, I think Julia should be praised for what she did to the Philippines, they should fire or have Raul Gonzales resign, he is unprofessional." - Mon of Santa Clara, California, USA (received April 21, 2007, 3:44 a.m.) "Sec. Raul Gonzales' statement on Julia Cambell is irresponsible and ignorant comment. Nakakahiya, i was working with this fellow american, alam ang nangyari. They said, what kind of Sec. of Justice you have? I'm a shame of being filipino." - Wilson Banga, Baltimore, Maryland, USA (received April 20, 2007, 9:57 p.m.) "How can you blame Ms. Campbell for her death? This old man really needs to retire from his position the soonest... How can an educated man and also a government official make a statement such as that? He really reflects the true identity of the Philippine government, he is such shame for us Filipinos when he could just offer sympathy and help to pursue the killer of Ms. Campbell. - Karl Cardona of Doha, Qatar (received April 22, 2007, 12:04 p.m.) "In effect Sec. Gonzales is saying that when a tourist goes on a lonely walk in a deserted area, one is justified in killling, raping, attacking and/or robbing that tourist (local or foreign). Such perverted logic is frightening as it sends a very wrong signal to those with criminal tendencies, coming as it does from the Secretary of Justice of the Philippines. - Ellile A. Torallo of Camarines Sur (received April 20, 2007, 9:46 p.m.)

Campbell was last seen April 8 in Batad village in Banaue and was reported missing three days later. She was found dead on April 18 in a shallow grave with her feet protruding from the ground. The DOJ secretary's comments drew flak from women's group Gabriela and opposition senatorial candidates, saying Gonzalez insulted the memory of the deceased Campbell. Malacañang, meanwhile, said Gonzalez was "entitled to his own opinions." US Ambassador Kristie Kenney refused to comment on the matter. Asked about Gonzalez's remark, Campbell's sister Geary Campbell Morris recently told GMA News' Saksi that given the beauty of the Banaue Rice Terraces, "How can she (Julia) not go there?" Morris added that, "I want to be where she walked on in Banaue at some point in my life." - GMANews.TV