2007.05.02: May 2, 2007: Headlines: COS - Phlippines: Safety: Crime: Murder: Journalism: Philippines News: An American tragedy in the Philippines
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2007.05.02: May 2, 2007: Headlines: COS - Phlippines: Safety: Crime: Murder: Journalism: Philippines News: An American tragedy in the Philippines
An American tragedy in the Philippines
THE recent killing of American Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell in the Philippines can only be described as a senseless tragedy. She fell victim to a crime without provocation. There was no passion involved, nor hate, nor intent to rob or rape or kill. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Campbell apparently angered a young man with a chip on his shoulder by accidentally bumping into him. For this minor accident, that man unleashed his rage on her.
Words cannot express the pain the family and friends of Campbell must feel. We at Philippine News can only offer our condolences on behalf of our countrymen. In our book, Ms. Campbell died a hero. She dedicated her life to a cause greater than herself. She must have been fully aware that the life of a Peace Corps volunteer entails not only hardship, but danger as well. Still, she chose to live that life which offers no financial rewards. Peace Corps founder President John F. Kennedy would have been proud of her. Julia Campbell lived and died serving not just her country, but the cause of peace by living and working in the developing country that is our motherland. May her soul rest in eternal peace. God bless you, Julia Campbell.
An American tragedy in the Philippines
An American tragedy in the Philippines
May 02, 2007
THE recent killing of American Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell in the Philippines can only be described as a senseless tragedy.
She fell victim to a crime without provocation. There was no passion involved, nor hate, nor intent to rob or rape or kill.
She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Campbell apparently angered a young man with a chip on his shoulder by accidentally bumping into him. For this minor accident, that man unleashed his rage on her.
Juan Donald Dugtungan is the self-confessed killer of Campbell. It is fair to expect that the full force of the law will be imposed upon his person. A young 25, the remainder of Dugtungan’s life should now be considered forfeit. He is likely to spend the greater part of his adult life, if not rest of it, in prison where he belongs.
Already, his lawyers have indicated that a plea of innocence by reason of temporary insanity will be entered in his behalf. In his own words, the woodcarver said that he simply snapped and his mind went blank.
This is a weak defense, at best. Only barbarians are unable to control their inner demons. His was an act that belongs to uncivilized society, and the Republic of the Philippines is not an uncivilized state. In fact, this one crime could conceivably have serious repercussions between Americans and Filipino Americans. We pray that it does not, but would not be surprised if it did. We don’t even want to think about what possible repercussions may occur.
At the very least, this Dugtungan has also said that he is willing to face the consequences of his actions.
The crime shocked not only the Philippines and the United States, but the rest of the world. Here was a woman whose sole purpose in staying in the Philippines was to help the poor. She had taken a break from her life as a journalist in the U.S. to do her bit to make the world a better place. In so doing, she lived the difficult life of a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippine countryside.
It is our fervent prayer that she found the goodness that resides within each of us in those hard years in our motherland, not only in herself but in the people that she met and befriended.
Reports about her life in the Philippines say that she was well liked because she had a genuine caring heart for those who have less in life. Campbell taught English to young Filipino boys and girls, and did community work for the elders.
She was just weeks away from her eventual return to the U.S. when she became a victim of one random act of violence. Adding insult to injury, her killer buried her body in a shallow grave.
Philippine Congress is preparing to give Julia Campbell the highest honors given Filipino citizens. Perhaps President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should follow suit, and grant her a posthumous presidential medal or citation.
Words cannot express the pain the family and friends of Campbell must feel. We at Philippine News can only offer our condolences on behalf of our countrymen.
In our book, Ms. Campbell died a hero. She dedicated her life to a cause greater than herself. She must have been fully aware that the life of a Peace Corps volunteer entails not only hardship, but danger as well. Still, she chose to live that life which offers no financial rewards.
Peace Corps founder President John F. Kennedy would have been proud of her.
Julia Campbell lived and died serving not just her country, but the cause of peace by living and working in the developing country that is our motherland. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
God bless you, Julia Campbell.
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Headlines: May, 2007; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Crime; Murder; Journalism
When this story was posted in May 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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| PCOL serves half million PCOL's readership for April exceeded 525,000 visitors - a 50% increase over last year. This year also saw the advent of a new web site: Peace Corps News that together with the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps serve 17,000 RPCVs, Staff, and Friends of the Peace Corps every day. Thanks for making PCOL your source of news for the Peace Corps community. Read more. |
| Suspect confesses in murder of PCV Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences . |
| Warren Wiggins: Architect of the Peace Corps Warren Wiggins, who died at 84 on April 13, became one of the architects of the Peace Corps in 1961 when his paper, "A Towering Task," landed in the lap of Sargent Shriver, just as Shriver was trying to figure out how to turn the Peace Corps into a working federal department. Shriver was electrified by the treatise, which urged the agency to act boldly. Read Mr. Wiggins' obituary and biography, take an opportunity to read the original document that shaped the Peace Corps' mission, and read John Coyne's special issue commemorating "A Towering Task." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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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Story Source: Philippines News
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