Campbell killing had resulted in almost 50 percent reduction in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting Banaue



"We Ifugaos put the woman in a pedestal. The Campbell case cannot be used as a picture of the way of life of the Ifugao," said Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao, who admitted the incident had some impact on the economy, especially in the tourism industry of the province, host to the world's renowned Ifugao Terraces. Other local officials, likewise, admitted that the Campbell issue had an effect on the province's tourism industry, one of the major revenue sources for the local government units. Restaurant owners and hotel operators as well as tour guides in Banaue town which is commonly visited by tourists admitted that the Campbell killing had resulted in almost 50 percent reduction in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting their place.

Campbell killing had resulted in almost 50 percent reduction in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting Banaue

Judge fines Campbell suspect's

Judge fines Campbell suspect's

counsel P100 for skipping trial

By CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

[Excerpt]

Meanwhile, Campbell 's killing which happened in Batad, Banaue town last April appears to have negatively affected the issuance of visas to Cordillerans, especially from this province, an official of the government's National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) said.

The ranking NCIP official, who requested for anonymity, said the Campbell killing had allegedly caused the stricter issuance of visas to Cordillerans wishing to enter their countries by officials of various embassies in Manila , especially the US Embassy.

"We know that this is an isolated incident but one cannot avoid for the various embassies to be wary about people from the region. In fact, some Cordillerans had even suggested not telling embassy officials one is from the Cordillera, or particularly Ifugao," the NCIP executive said.

Information had likewise reached the NCIP, the official said, that various embassies in the country had also issued travel advisories to citizens to avoid the Cordillera, particularly Ifugao province, due to the incident.

Local officials, when learning about the discrimination allegedly displayed against their constituents when seeking visas, said that the Campbell case should not be used to get back at them, saying the incident is purely an isolated one that does not truly picture the case of the Ifugao people.

"We Ifugaos put the woman in a pedestal. The Campbell case cannot be used as a picture of the way of life of the Ifugao," said Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao, who admitted the incident had some impact on the economy, especially in the tourism industry of the province, host to the world's renowned Ifugao Terraces.

Other local officials, likewise, admitted that the Campbell issue had an effect on the province's tourism industry, one of the major revenue sources for the local government units.

Restaurant owners and hotel operators as well as tour guides in Banaue town which is commonly visited by tourists admitted that the Campbell killing had resulted in almost 50 percent reduction in the number of local and foreign tourists visiting their place.

Last April 8, shortly after arriving for a brief vacation here, Campbell, 40, was declared missing by a masseuse whom she contracted to service her while staying at a rented room in Batad. Her body was found weeks later half-buried in a canal.

Almost three weeks after, the 25-year-old Duntugan surrendered to authorities and confessed owning up to the crime.

Duntugan had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge despite owning up to the killing, saying he did not kill Campbell on purpose, but thought it was a neighbor with whom he had a grudge. CCL

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: August, 2007; Peace Corps Philippines; Directory of Philippines RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Philippines RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Crime; Murder; Journalism

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