* American Women's Body Found In The Philippines: Never Hike Alone, There*

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. But never go hiking in the Philippines alone.
2. Way to dangerous.
3. Especially if you are a white American women.
4. Anyone could come up on you a rape and murder you.
5. I didn't know people did this???
6. Here's a link:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/04/18/ap3624292.html
"
American's Body Found in Philippines
By OLIVER TEVES 04.18.07, 5:50 AM ET

Popular Videos


It's Electric! Driving The Mini
Cal Ripken's Baseball Empire
Billion Dollar Baby
The Download: Apple Hot Or Not?
China: Offshoring Innovation

Most Popular Stories


Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces
DoubleClick Purchase Lifts ValueClick
Big Tech At Key Juncture
Will Banks Please The Street?
The Obesity Index



Philippine police opened an investigation after a body believed to be a missing American Peace Corps volunteer was found Wednesday in a shallow grave in a northern mountain town where she disappeared while hiking.

Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang told The Associated Press there was no immediate forensic confirmation that the body belonged to Julia Campbell, 40, from Fairfax, Virginia.

But regional police commander Chief Superintendent Raul Gonzales said the body was fair-skinned and clad in clothes similar to those that Campbell was last seen wearing.

The remains were found buried in a dry creek, with a foot sticking out, in the vicinity of Batad village, where Campbell was last seen, Gonzales said.

"There is a probability that there was foul play," Gonzales told the AP, adding the police will now treat it as "a crime incident."

U.S. Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop said American authorities could not immediately confirm it was Campbell's body, saying embassy and Peace Corps officers are helping police recover and identify the remains.

He said the Peace Corps office in Washington has been "in close touch with the family throughout this process."

Police earlier speculated that Campbell may have fallen off a cliff. She went missing April 8 in the village outside Banaue town in Ifugao province north of Manila, where she had planned to view famed mountainside rice terraces.

Ifugao provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Pedro Ganir told the AP by telephone that a stray dog had dug out one foot when soldiers discovered the body, which was placed in the creek and covered with dirt.

A pair of reading glasses was found near a trail about 160 feet from the body, with one of the lenses laying nearby. Police also recovered a sandal they believed belonged to the woman.

"This is no longer an accident," he said.

Tschetter said more than 80 people - including police commandos, soldiers, and volunteers - were involved in the search, backed by four helicopters and four tracking dogs.

Ganir earlier said Campbell, wearing blue denim jeans, black shirt and a shawl, was last seen buying soda from a store in Batad.

She was only wearing sandals and had bought a bus ticket to return to Manila by April 9, indicating she did not plan to extend her stay or make a long hike to a spot to look at the rice terraces, he said.

Campbell is one of 137 Peace Corps volunteers currently in the Philippines.

She had been teaching English at the Divine Word College in Albay province's Legazpi city, southeast of Manila, since October 2006. She previously taught at a public school in Donsol in nearby Sorsogon province, said Nora Gallano, assistant dean of Divine Word's College of Liberal Arts.
"
Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

[jafar00]

TWO American Women found slain in Washington State. Don't go hiking there even if you aren't alone!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/277582_hikers14.html

Running out of things to post CWN? It looks like the USA is a much more hazardous place to go hiking eh? :P

[Professor]

It doesn't say she was hiking. She planned to view the mountains but that doesn't mean it was then. She could have been out there on a orders, or doing something else.

But why was she wearing sandels to go into woods? That was stupid?

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. But more news on this lady.
2. Here's a link:
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/apr/22/yehey/metro/20070422met1.html
"

Campbell was beaten to death

By Anthony Vargas,Reporter

Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell was clubbed to death, an autopsy revealed on Saturday.

Forensic experts from the Philippine National Police who conducted the autopsy said Campbell sustained severe head injuries that led to her death.

She had been missing for 10 days before her body was found Wednesday in a shallow grave near a creek in the village of Batad in Ifugao.

It was flown to Manila for the autopsy, which was performed at the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Makati City.

“The cause of death is multiple traumatic injuries in the head,” Chief Insp. Mamerto Bernabe, the PNP Crime Laboratory’s chief medico legal officer, told a press briefing.

The examination of Campbell’s body was observed by American forensic experts.

When asked if Campbell might have been bludgeoned to death, Bernabe said: “It’s a possibility.”

He said the examination was completed about 3 p.m. and a report was being prepared for the PNP chief, Director General Oscar Calderon.

The shallow grave raised speculation that the 41-year-old Virginian native might have been killed by robbers.

Police has launched a manhunt for a Batad resident had been seen near where Campbell’s body was found.

Campbell arrived in Batad on Easter Sunday and had planned to hike a trail that leads to the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces.

The autopsy was observed by three American forensic experts and representatives from the US Embassy in Manila.

After the autopsy, her body will be turned over to US Embassy authorities for proper disposition.

Campbell had been in the country for the past two years, working in depressed areas in Bicol. Her last assignment was as an English teacher in a college in Legazpi City.

Campbell is among the 137 US Peace Corps volunteers serving in the Philippines.
"
Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. But more news came out today on this killing of the American women in the Philippines.
2. I think the killers story is, *crap*.
3. He killed her for some other reason, not he thought she was some one else.
4. White people stand out like movie stars do here.
5. Few white people walk around in the mountains especially.
6. This killer is, *Lying*.
7. Here's a link:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=75258
"
Juan Duntugan admitted to ABS-CBN News he killed US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, but said it was not intentional.

Duntugan surrendered to Ifugao police Friday ending a 20-day manhunt.

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, Duntugan said: "Hindi ko po plano na patayin si Ms. [Julia] Campbell o saktan siya. Inaamin ko (I did not plan to kill Ms. Julia Campbell or hurt her. I admit [to killing her])."

He denied having robbed or raped the American volunteer.

‘Mistaken for a bully’

The 25-year-old woodcarver said he was on his way to Batad town center in Banuae, Ifugao last April 8 when he was bumped from behind, causing clothes in a sack he was carrying to be thrown off into the mud.

Thinking it was his neighbor with whom he has a running feud, Duntugan bludgeoned the person who bumped him.

"It was too late when I saw it was a tourist," Duntugan said in the vernacular. "Why would I want to hurt a tourist when it is from them that we get our livelihood."

ABS-CBN News gained an exclusive interview with Duntugan after his relatives Thursday night sought the network’s help to facilitate Duntugan’s surrender to the police and help ensure his safety from his hiding place in Baguio City.

He said he has a long running feud with a neighbor who has been bullying their neighborhood. Duntugan said the man often discharges his gun in the air. He thought it was his neighbor who bumped him. He lost control of himself, he said.

It was out of fear, he said, that he decided to drag the lifeless body of the Peace Corps volunteer and bury her in a shallow grave where she was found.

Duntugan told ABS-CBN he is ready to face the consequence of his crime.

Before he surrendered, Duntugan met his wife and family to seek their forgiveness. He also apologized to the family of his victim. It was only then that he surrendered to Ifugao Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Pedro Ganir and Chief Inspector Reno Corpuz.

Duntugan was accompanied by his mother, Jane Duntugan, when he surrendered to Ifugao police chief Senior Superintendent Pedro Ganir and Chief Inspector Reno Corpuz at 3:20 p.m.

Duntugan apologized for killing Campbell.

He asked police to allow his family to visit him at the Ifugao provincial jail.

Doubt raised on Duntugan’s admission

Campbell's close friend in Donsol, Sorsogon, Ma. Theresa Avisago, meanwhile raised doubts on Duntugan's statements on his sudden outburst of rage after being bumped resulting in his bludgeoning of Campbell.

"Nagsisinungaling siya. Hindi siya nagsasabi ng totoo. (He's lying. He's not telling the truth)," said Avisago.

Avisago said that knowing Campbell, she was sure the American volunteer would even help immediately after Duntugan’s clothes were thrown off into the mud. Campbell's friend said there may be others behind the killing of the American and Duntugan may just be an accomplice and a "fall guy".

Avisago added she hope the police would not be haphazard as to immediately close their investigation even as Duntugan has made an admission.

Campbell was found lifeless in Batad on April 18. She was last seen trekking Batad's mountainside on Easter Sunday.

Police tagged Duntugan as the prime suspect in Campbell's killing through accounts of three boys who allegedly saw the woodcarver carrying the American volunteer's knapsack. They said Duntugan has two homes -- one in Barangay Batad and another one in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Murder charges to be filed

Philippine National Police chief Oscar Calderon said police were "documenting his statement in the presence of a lawyer." Murder charges are expected to be filed within four days.

Superintendent Joseph Adnol, Cordillera Regional Office spokesman, said Dontugan was surrendered by his mother Jane to the Ifugao Provincial Police Office at around 3:20 p.m. yesterday.

"He is now under the custody of Ifugao PPO," Superintendent Joseph Adnol, Cordillera Regional Office spokesman, said in a text message, though no formal charges have been filed against him yet.

Ifugao police director Senior Superintendent Pedro Ganir who interviewed Dontugan quoted the suspect as saying, "Napalakas lang yung tama. (The blow just hit hard.)"

Police however said that while it might be true that Dontugan did not intend to kill Campbell, the fact that he buried her in a shallow grave aggravated the crime, which would warrant the filing of charges in court.

Deputy Press Attaché Stacy MacTaggert of the US Embassy in Manila, said the US government is "pleased" with this latest development in the investigation.

No fingerprints

Duntugan surfaced a day after police admitted that it failed to obtain conclusive evidence linking him to the killing.

Chief Superintendent Arturo Cacdac, director of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, said police failed to find fingerprints from items recovered from the crime scene.

He added that the "blood spots" earlier reported found on the pants of Duntugan and the pestle that probers said was used in the killing of Campbell were not actually blood.

Cacdac said Campbell’s digital camera that was found near the crime scene also yielded no clues. He said the camera contained photographs taken abroad.

Campbell’s remains return to US

The remains of Campbell were flown back to the United States Friday morning, ABS-CBN News reported.

The report said Carl Beck, US Peace Corps Director - Philippines, personally handcarried the urn containing the ashes of the slain volunteer. Beck left on board Northwest Airlines flight NW72, bound for Detroit, Michigan.

The body of the US Peace Corps volunteer was cremated Thursday more than a week after authorities found her remains buried in a shallow grave in Ifugao province.

Campbell to get posthumous award from Congress

Speaker Jose de Venecia announced on Friday that Campbell’s work in depressed areas of the country will be recognized through a posthumous Congressional Medal of Achievement from the House of Representatives.

De Venecia said the award -- the highest decoration from the House -- will be presented in June to the US Peace Corps, represented by its director, Ronald Tschetter in Washington, and a representative of Campbell’s family, in ceremonies expected to be graced by top Philippine and American officials and leaders of civil society in Manila.

The Congressional Medal of Achievement citation would honor Campbell for having "brought light and joy into the lives" of many Filipinos.

"She epitomized the ideals of the Peace Corps and of the American people," the citation read.

President Arroyo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo have expressed support for the House initiative, which recognizes two years of Campbell’s stay in the Bicol region as a teacher.

A former journalist, Campbell, of Fairfax, Virginia, arrived in the Philippines in 2005.

She and a team of US Peace Corps volunteers in Albay assisted locals after the province was hit by a strong typhoon that caused a mudslide in Mayon Volcano last year.

Campbell also served in ecological and educational projects in Southern Luzon since she began her volunteer work in the Philippines last March 15.

When Julia was in Donsol, Sorsogon, she worked with the local schools to rebuild and stock their libraries. Through her "A Book and A Buck" program, she was able to provide 500 books for the local students. She was also able to establish an eco-center in Donsol to promote ecological awareness. Most recently, she served as a teacher at the Divine Word College in Legazpi City, where she taught English.

Campbell’s family, in a statement through the US Peace Corps, said, "In her forty years, Julia lived a very full life. She loved her family and friends and is much loved. She was passionate in her journalism reporting especially the stories involving people who were able to stand and address adversity or adverse situations."

US Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter said "She contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served," With an exclusive interview by Jay Ruiz and a report from The Philippine Star

(article first posted 5:05 p.m. April 27, 2007)
"


Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

[Alonzo]

Is it just me, or does the tone of this thread disturb anyone else?

"How dare they kill a white woman!"

[quiet man]

there are no "woods" to hike in pi. it's all jungle and mountains.

[jafar00]

Is it just me, or does the tone of this thread disturb anyone else?

"How dare they kill a white woman!"


Yes, a little disturbing for me, but my brain skipped over that unpleasant bit.

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. But to explain why this young guy wanted to kill this women from America is unreal.
2. He had to be enlisted into some sort of terrorist group.
3. Could be he was muslim.
4. That is my guess, I bet he's a GD muslim!
5. I will monitor this story, and let you all know when the details surface.

Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

[ticbeast]

Why hasn't anyone considered the possibility that maybe the murderer didn't target a "white American woman" and would have killed a person no matter who it was?

[Red Dragon]

Sorry bout that,

1. But to explain why this young guy wanted to kill this women from America is unreal.
2. He had to be enlisted into some sort of terrorist group.
3. Could be he was muslim.
4. That is my guess, I bet he's a GD muslim!
5. I will monitor this story, and let you all know when the details surface.

Regards,
SirJamesofTexas


Or he could just be crazy you know, there are lots of people out there who just kill. It doesn't mean he was a terrorist and also what does his religion have to do with anything?

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. Oh a general killing, for no reason.
2. Yeah gotcha!
3. Happens every day sure, man gets up and says to himself, *When I get to the creek, who ever is in the creek, when I get there,, THEIR DEAD!*
4. Happens all the time, your right, wasn't a muslim after all.
5. Not really.

Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

[Red Dragon]

Yeah chess there called Psychopaths; I'm surprised you've never heard of them before. I mean there's Albert DeSalvo AKA the Boston strangler, Kristen Gilbert the original angel of death serial killer, and many others. Also again what does being a Muslim have to do with murdering people?