US pressing DOJ to file murder raps vs suspect in Julia Campbell slay

BY JOAN CAPUNA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The US government and the US Peace Corps are pressuring the Department of Justice through the Ifugao prosecutor’s office to file murder charges against the self-confessed killer of Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell.

A source from the Ifugao prosecutor’s office, who requested anonymity for fear of possible repercussions, said Peace Corps officials and the American embassy in Manila have been pressuring them to file murder charges against 25-year-old Juan Duntugan, the suspected killer of the 40-year-old Peace Corps volunteer.

The DOJ here, however, declared the matter should be studied very carefully first before a case is filed against Duntugan.

“It is very difficult to go against the wishes of the American government, since they tend to act with pressure on matters concerning their nationals,” the source said. “Aside from this is the fact that this incident is a high profile case which the Americans are very interested in.”

The source also claimed the Americans area pressuring Duntugan to admit that he had a companion during the incident. “The Americans apparently don’t believe that Duntugan could have done the crime alone.”

The US embassy, however, has not commented on reports that it and the Peace Corps are pressuring the DOJ to upgrade the charges against Duntugan.

“The Philippine National Police and Philippine authorities are handling the case and the embassy is coordinating with them as appropriate,” US Embassy Press Attache Mathew Lussenhop said.

A number of experts who took part in the investigation were of the opinion that, based on the facts at hand, Duntugan had committed at most robbery with homicide.

A soldier who participated in the search for Campbell ’s body, meanwhile, said he did not believe Duntugan’s statement that he accidentally killed Campbell : “It’s more probable that Duntugan killed Campbell after she resisted his efforts to rob her.”

The Ifugao provincial police have information for a possible murder or homicide case against Duntugan pending before the provincial prosecutor’s office.

Provincial police director Senior Supt. Pedro Ganir said it is now up to the DOJ to determine the case it will file against Duntugan.

DOJ Assistant Chief Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon said “It is premature to say anything, as the DOJ proper has yet to receive the filed information. It is premature to be making any requests at this time.”

Fadullon said that while charges have been filed against Duntugan, the information on these charges has yet to be received by the DOJ head office in Manila .

The Ifugao prosecutor’s office has until next week to formally file charges against Duntugan.

Ifugao deputy prosecutor Marvin Ngayawan said they are still studying the information submitted by the Ifugao police regarding the Campbell killing to determine whether to file murder charges of robbery with homicide.

Under the revised penal code, homicide is a bailable offense while murder is non-bailable.

The Ifugao prosecutor’s office has until next week to file a case against Duntugan.

Meanwhile, some Ifugao residents said they doubt that Duntugan killed Campbell on purpose and said he may have only had robbery in mind at the time.