Justice for Campbell hailed, but...

MANILA, Philippines – Militant women’s group Gabriela hailed the verdict on the murder of American Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, a day after the court sentenced the self-confessed killer to a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

While commending the courts for swift justice for Campbell, Gabriela said this should have been the case of “Hazel,” the young Filipino migrant worker allegedly raped by an American soldier in Okinawa, Japan.

“Unfortunately, while Campbell received the full support of her government perhaps prodding the local justice system to hasten its proceedings, (the case of) Hazel…seems to been forgotten by the Philippine government,” said Emmi de Jesus, secretary general of Gabriela.

De Jesus lamented that after “token actions” that “included half-hearted statements of support,” it seemed that Hazel’s case “has been buried for oblivion” by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). 

Gabriela claimed that the DFA earlier said they would file for reinvestigation of Hazel’s case after it was junked by the court in Okinawa.

Gabriela said Philippine Consul General in Okinawa Ako Alarcon is dragging his feet on the case. They said Alarcon is married to a naturalized US citizen and has a son serving in the US military.   –Katherine Adraneda