Arraignment for Campbell slay suspect set on May 29

BY JUAN B. DAIT JR.

LAGAWE, Ifugao – The arraignment of the confessed killer of US Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell Duntugan who is at present under the custody of the provincial police at Camp Joaquin Dunuan here, the provincial police headquarters in this capital town was set on May 29.

A charge for murder was filed on May 22 by Ifugao Provincial Perosecutor Joseph Tumapang against Juan Donald B. Duntugan with the sala of Judge Esther P. Flor of the Regional Trial Court in the Justice Hall here.

Prosecutor Tumapang filed the murder charge after Duntugan failed to submit his answer or counter-affidavit against him by Ifugao Provincial Police Director Pedro Ganir.

Duntugan was given 10 days from May 2 to submit his answer to the complaint.

The failure of Duntugan to submit his answer to the complaint of the police prompted the provincial prosecutor to formally file the murder charge against him with the sala of Judge Flor who set the arraignment of Duntugan on May 29.

Prosecutor Tumapang said he will handle the prosecution of the case.

Asked why the charge against Duntugan was for murder, Prosecutor Tumapang said there were two justifying or aggravating circumstances attending the killing of Campbell .

Duntugan’s attack on Campbell was done treacherously, the persecutor said.

Also, the killing of the lady US Peace Corps volunteer was attended by viciousness and cruelty, Tumapang said.

This writer was shown at the Prosecutor’s office a video recording of the decomposing of badly battered body of Campbell sent by the PNP Crime Laboratory in Manila .

Campbell ’s jawbone was slit open, her face badly beaten and parts of her body battered.

Tumapang ruled out robbery and rape, saying that Campbell ’s personal belongings like her camera, sunglasses, and eyeglasses were found near her body.

Lawyer for Duntugan is Maribas Lubiton-Habawel of the Public Attorney’s Office.

Campbell disappeared last April 8 while hiking alone in Barangay Batad in the tourist town of Banawe .

Her body was found 10 days later in a shallow grave near a dry creek some 200 meters from Batad proper.

Duntugan went into hiding in Benguet and Baguio but he surrendered last April 27 in Camp 5, Barangay Asin in Baguio City .

He was brought to Camp Joaquin Dunuan here by his mother Jane and his uncle, PO3 Arnold Dalluyon.