Peace Corps director arrives in Philippines as search for missing volunteer continues



U.S. Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter arrived in the Philippines this evening to consult with Philippine officials regarding the ongoing search for a missing U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer. Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell Director Tschetter will travel to the Banaue area on April 17 to meet with American and Filipino authorities involved in the search, learn about the efforts being made and express his gratitude for their assistance. In Manila, he will meet with Philippine Government officials, and will also meet with a gathering of U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers and staff members.

Peace Corps director arrives in Philippines as search for missing volunteer continues

U.S. PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR VISITS PHILIPPINES AS SEARCH FOR MISSING VOLUNTEER CONTINUES

MANILA, APRIL 16, 2007 - U.S. Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter arrived in the Philippines this evening to consult with Philippine officials regarding the ongoing search for a missing U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer. Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell

Ms. Julia Campbell was last seen on Sunday, April 8 in Banaue, Ifugao Province, Northern Luzon. She reportedly intended to hike in a hilly area near Batad, 1.5 kilometers east of Banaue town, and was unaccompanied. Ms. Campbell is a 40-year old Caucasian American with blonde hair, eyeglasses, 1.7 meters tall (5 feet, 7 inches), weighing 58 kilograms.

Director Tschetter will travel to the Banaue area on April 17 to meet with American and Filipino authorities involved in the search, learn about the efforts being made and express his gratitude for their assistance. In Manila, he will meet with Philippine Government officials, and will also meet with a gathering of U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers and staff members.

Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell
Anyone who has seen Ms. Campbell anytime after April 8, or who may have information on her movements or current location, should call Mr. John Borja, Safety and Security Officer of the Peace Corps - Philippines at (011) 0920-900-5270.

For additional information on the Peace Corps Director's press availability please contact the Public Affairs Section of the American Embassy, Manila (011) 63-2-528-6300.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: April, 2007; Ron Tschetter; Peace Corps Philippines; Directory of Philippines RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Philippines RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Journalism; Ron Tschetter (Director 2006 - ); Figures; Directors; Peace Corps India; Directory of India RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for India RPCVs

When this story was posted in April 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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March 14, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Evacuated PCVs attend Festival on the Niger in Mali 23 Feb Tom Bissell tells the story of how Vietnam came home 13 Mar Mike Honda cites Japan's Sex Slavery 8 Mar Donna Shalala co-chairs presidential commission 7 Mar Sixth Anniversary of Disappearance of PCV Walter Poirier 6 Mar Sam Farr was de-selected during Peace Corps Training 6 Mar Elaine Jones would be good fit for NAACP President 6 Mar Pat Waak re-elected chairwoman of Colorado Dems 5 Mar Astronaut Mae Jemison was PC Medical Officer 4 Mar Guy Consolmagno blends faith and science 3 Mar Doyle Turns Down Federal Abstinence Money 3 Mar Owen Cylke writes: Taxi in the Rain 2 Mar Jody Olsen receives "Founder’s Day" Award 2 Mar Chris Dodd introduces PCV Empowerment Act 1 Mar Michael O'Hanlon writes: Iraq Deserves One More Chance 1 Mar An Excerpt from Jan Worth's Night Blind 28 Feb David Harde sentenced for Medical Marijuana 28 Feb Oscar winner Helen Mirren congratulated by RPCV husband 26 Feb RPCVs distribute mosquito nets 25 Feb Peter McPherson new Chairman of Dow Jones 21 Feb Arabic speakers under-utilized in Homeland Security 9 Feb Dr. J. Michael Taylor co- founded Konbit Sante 4 Feb

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February 23, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Hill announces Draft Accord in North Korea Nuclear Talks 12 Feb Dodd builds connections in New Hampshire 19 Feb PCVs accused of counterinsurgency activities 19 Feb Harris Wofford declares support for Obama 18 Feb Tschetter becomes the first Director to visit Malawi 16 Feb New Fellows Program at Yale University 15 Feb Sidney Slover helps start donut production in Honduras 16 Feb Kevin O'Donnell's Daughter and Granddaughter are PCVs 14 Feb Joe Krueger helps restore Liberia's timber industry 14 Feb Peace Corps Hippies 13 Feb Maryland RPCVs to screen "American Idealist" on March 3 9 Feb Aaron Kase writes: Moon over Africa 8 Feb Margaret Krome writes: 'Rogue nations' aren't only threat 8 Feb Shays says he would Support McCain 8 Feb A Mistrial for Lieut. Watada 8 Feb Chris Matthews drops the F-bomb 8 Feb RPCVs - Believe it or not 07 Feb White House requests $334 Million for Peace Corps 5 Feb Carol Bellamy writes: We need an Earth Corps 3 Feb First Group of PCVs arrive in Cambodia 2 Feb Mae Jemison wears red for charity 2 Feb Dear Miss Lonelyhearts 30 Jan

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Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

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He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

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Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director Read our story about Ron Tschetter's confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that was carried on C-Span. It was very different from the Vasquez hearings in 2001, very cut and dried with low attendance by the public. Among the highlights, Tschetter intends to make recruitment of baby boomers a priority, there are 20 countries under consideration for future programs, Senator Dodd intends to re-introduce his third goal Peace Corps legislation this session, Tschetter is a great admirer of Senator Coleman's quest for accountability, Dodd thinks management at PC may not put volunteers first, Dodd wants Tschetter to look into problems in medical selection, and Tschetter is not a blogger and knows little about the internet or guidelines for volunteer blogs. Read our recap of the hearings as well as Senator Coleman's statement and Tschetter's statement.

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Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

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The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

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PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

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History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

Read the stories and leave your comments.

By Joanne Marie Roll (joey) (acbf4ac1.ipt.aol.com - 172.191.74.193) on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 9:56 am: Edit Post

What a tremendous response from Peace Corps to this very serious situation. Ron Tschetter is a RPCV and the second of only two RPCVs who have been appointed to head the agency. I think this makes all the difference. He travels to the Philippines and is personally and publicly involved. His concern is evident.

This is such a contrast to the indiffernt response shown by Peace Corps/Wash when Walter Poirier III was found to be missing in Bolivia. That tragedy focused attention on the inadequate protection afforded Peace Corps Volunteers by the agency which was funded to support them. I would hope that the changes in safety and security made by former agency head, Gaddi Valdez, as a result, will also play an important part in bringing this search to a successful and happy conclusion.

My thoughts are with Julia Campbell's family, her friends both in the United States and the Philippines and the serving Peace Corps Volunteers in that country.

By former Volunteer (ca07-ch01-bl09.va-ashburn0.sa.earthlink.net - 207.69.138.141) on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 9:32 pm: Edit Post

Thanks Joey,

I think you are right. The response from Peace Corps was much better in this situation. I am sure it pains the new Director ,who, got so personally involved.

It is a shame and saddens me to hear this news. My thoughts go out to the family members and friends of Julia Campbell. We as former volunteers, I am sure, think of ourselves in service when these situations occur.

I just don't know what more to say. This is just horrible.

Former Volunteer