GMA News says: Body seems 'deliberately buried'



In a television interview, Senior Superintendent Raul Gonzales, CAR police director, said the body "appears to have been deliberately buried." While police officials have deployed investigators to confirm the cause of death, Gonzales said the site has been "considered a crime scene." Also contrary to the US Embassy statement, Gonzales said a male tourist guide was contacted to accompany her. He said in the television interview: "So far we have not gotten a witness who could relay whatever happened during the visit of Ms. Campbell." "But investigators are now looking for witnesses. We have identified some probable witnesses that should be invited," Gonzales said. He did not say, however, if neither the masseuse nor the guide would be invited for questioning. "We hope people in Battad would shed light on this," the CAR police chief added.

GMA News says: Body seems 'deliberately buried'

PNP exec on Campbell: Body seems 'deliberately buried'

04/18/2007 | 06:37 PM

The regional police chief for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) on Wednesday raised fears that the recovered body believed to be that of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell was intentionally smothered in soil in Ifugao province.

In a television interview, Senior Superintendent Raul Gonzales, CAR police director, said the body "appears to have been deliberately buried."

While police officials have deployed investigators to confirm the cause of death, Gonzales said the site has been "considered a crime scene."

Army troopers on Wednesday morning found the body of Campbell buried with her feet protruding in Batad village.

Investigators could not yet say if Campbell suffered injuries that would indicate she was attacked.

Gonzales added that a pair of eyeglasses and a hat were recovered "several meters away from her body" in Batad village in Banaue town.

In its appeal for assistance in locating Campbell, the US Embassy in Manila described her as a female Caucasian wearing a pair of eyeglasses.

It added that she was last seen on April 8 and that she planned to climb a hilly area near Batad without any companion.

However, Gonzales said in a separate interview that Campbell was on her way to meet with a masseuse but she allegedly failed to show up at the meeting place.

Also contrary to the US Embassy statement, Gonzales said a male tourist guide was contacted to accompany her.

He said in the television interview: "So far we have not gotten a witness who could relay whatever happened during the visit of Ms. Campbell."

"But investigators are now looking for witnesses. We have identified some probable witnesses that should be invited," Gonzales said.

He did not say, however, if neither the masseuse nor the guide would be invited for questioning.

"We hope people in Battad would shed light on this," the CAR police chief added.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Manila has dispatched its own team to Ifugao province to assist in the investigation.

Separate statements from the Army and the Armed Forces initially quoted information from the field saying that the body recovered was that of Campbell. Later pronouncements of the military, said American forensic experts would be tapped to determine the body's identity.

Meanwhile at Malacañang, a senior Palace official said earlier in the day that Campbell's body was indeed recovered in Batad village.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr had confirmed Campbell's death on Wednesday morning. It was unclear, however, how the military was able to arrive at such conclusion.

He added that the verification measures currently being undertaken are aimed at determining the cause of death.

"At the time of discovery it was not yet known to the President and the call of the head of the Peace Corps Mr. [Ronald] Tschetter was at about 11 a.m. However, at his point in time it’s already known that Julia Campbell’s body was discovered and had been located," Ermita said.

"Arrangements were being done by the military, especially the Air Force to airlift the body. That was about 12:30 when I spoke with the chief of staff (Esperon)," he added.

The body is set to be autopsied in Manila.

Since October 2006, Campbell had been teaching English at the Divine Word College in Legazpi city. She also taught at a public school in Donsol, Sorsogon.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: April, 2007; Peace Corps Philippines; Directory of Philippines RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Philippines RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Journalism; Crime

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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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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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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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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.

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