2nd suspect eyed in Campbell slay

Investigators are looking into the possibility that the killer of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell had an accomplice, Ifugao police chief Senior Superintendent Pedro Ganir said yesterday.

A local woodcarver, Juan Dontugan, has been identified as the principal suspect, but police are following up leads on a possible accomplice. A warrant for Dontugan’s arrest has not yet been issued.

Campbell’s body was found last week in a shallow grave. Dontugan, 25, a 5-foot-7 woodcarver from the village of Batad in Banaue, was said to have been seen carrying her backpack.

"We have leads that he was not alone," Ganir told The Associated Press in a telephone interview, but refused to elaborate.

Dontugan has been at large since April 9, a day after Campbell was reported missing during a solo hike to see the area’s famed mountainside rice terraces, Ganir said.

A police autopsy showed multiple blows to the head with a blunt instrument killed Campbell. Her arms also were injured, indicating that she tried to block the blows, police said.

Campbell’s attacker could have easily overpowered her during the attack because he is "a strong woodcarver."

Reports had it that the suspect is well known among furniture businessmen in Ifugao and Baguio City as his job is woodcarving.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Calderon earlier said police recovered a bloodstained piece of wood near the suspect’s home.

Dontugan is the husband of the woman who sold Campbell a Coca-Cola before she proceeded with her hike.

A councilor in Banaue township, Jun Addug, earlier said a 13-year-old boy saw the suspect going to the dry creek where Campbell’s grave was found.

Dontugan’s wife told GMA television her husband was not in Batad when Campbell disappeared, but Ganir, the police chief, said Dontugan left the village the following day.

Ganir said investigators were looking into "robbery with homicide or rape with homicide."

Cordillera Regional Police director Chief Superintendent Raul Gonzales said they are waiting for the result of the autopsy before they could file the case in court, which would issue a warrant for the arrest of Campbell’s attacker.

Gonzales said investigators would analyze the camera of Campbell to help determine more information about her death. The camera was recovered under the bushes, apparently near the area where Campbell was attacked.

"There might be something in her camera that would lead us to the killer of Campbell," said Gonzales in an interview over ANC.

Aside from the camera, Gonzales added that investigators found several items, coins and two pairs of eyeglasses of Campbell just a few meters away from where her body was found buried.

He said the camera was not destroyed and must have fallen from where Campbell had a struggle with her attacker.

PNP Crime Laboratory director Chief Superintendent Arturo Cacdac said they are expecting that several items, apparently those recovered from the crime scene, would be forwarded to his office for examination by forensic experts.

"We requested for some items recovered and we would like to check if there were fingerprints that could be lifted… which could belong to the suspect," Cacdac said.

Stacy Mactaggert, a US Embassy spokeswoman, said Campbell’s remains would be brought home to her family in Fairfax, Virginia, as soon as legal requirements, such as a death certificate, are completed.

However, she declined to comment on the call made by a group of human rights lawyers for the US government to demand the ouster of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for his insensitive and irresponsible remarks on slain Peace Corps volunteer.

The Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL) called for Washington to seek the ouster of Gonzalez whom the lawyers said also showed ignorance of international law.

"We are focused on mourning and remembering Julia, a vibrant and caring woman who was dedicated to helping others and who loved the Philippines," MacTaggert said in a phone interview.

Under international law, CODAL spokesperson Neri Javier Colmenares said the domestic government has the burden of preserving peace and order within its jurisdiction and is obligated to protect foreigners from harm, particularly from criminal elements, "while they are within that government’s territory."

Gonzalez maintained that Campbell was "careless" in going to the Ifugao Province alone as he dared his critics to hike alone.

Meantime, the gruesome killing of Campbell has apparently affected the arrival of foreign and local tourists in the province, which is famous for the breathtaking rice terraces — considered the eighth wonder of the world.

Calderon said tribal leaders in Ifugao have indicated their willingness to cooperate with the police for the immediate arrest of the alleged attacker of Campbell.

"We welcome any assistance from any group that would help the police solve the (Campbell) case. Our police in the area are also working round the clock to get more evidence that would support the prosecution of the suspect," said Calderon.

Calderon added the elders in Ifugao are mad at the suspect because the source of their income has been affected with fewer tourist arrivals and Campbell’s killing could be one of the factors.

Banaue is one of the prime tourist destinations because its cool climate provides relief during the summer.

There are 10 principal cultural groups living in the Cordillera Region. Of the 10 groups, the Ifugaos of Ifugao Province, the Bontocs of Mountain and Kalinga-Apayao provinces, and the Kankanays and Ibalois of Benguet Province were all wet-rice farmers who worked the elaborate rice terraces they had constructed over the centuries.

The Kankanays and Ibalois were the most influenced by Spanish and American colonialism and lowland Filipino culture because of the extensive gold mines in Benguet.

Police said the death of Campbell is considered isolated and should not prevent tourists from visiting beautiful tourist destinations in the country, particularly the rice terraces.

The PNP chief also ordered Cordillera police chief Gonzales to improve police visibility in all tourist destinations.- with Pia Lee-Brago, AP