2007.05.02: May 2, 2007: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Safety: Crime: Murder: Journalism: Speaking Out: PCOL Exclusive: Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter flew to Manila to support the search for missing PCV

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Philippines: Peace Corps Philippines: Peace Corps Philippines: Newest Stories: 2007.04.14: April 14, 2007: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Safety: Chicago Tribune: Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell Missing in Philippines : 2007.05.02: May 2, 2007: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Safety: Crime: Murder: Journalism: Speaking Out: PCOL Exclusive: Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter flew to Manila to support the search for missing PCV

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-141-157-43-13.balt.east.verizon.net - 141.157.43.13) on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 11:55 pm: Edit Post

Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter flew to Manila to support the search for missing PCV

Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter flew to Manila to support the search for missing PCV

Peace Corps Country Director Karl Beck writes on April 15: "Peace Corps Director Ronald Tschetter has been following very closely the search efforts to find Julia Campbell. Mr. Tschetter is deeply concerned to make available all possible support for the search and to express his solidarity directly to PC Philippines Volunteers and staff. He will come to the Philippines this week to gain first hand information and to meet with Volunteers, PC staff, Embassy officials, and the Philippine Government leaders who are helping us. Director Tschetter is presently finalizing arrangements to be in Manila this week. He has asked us to invite Philippines PCVs to meet with him in the PC office around mid-week at a time still to be fixed. This message is intended to give you news of this invitation as early as possible. By tomorrow, Monday April 16, we will inform you of the actual date and time. We understand that not all Volunteers will be able to depart their sites on this short notice, and the decision whether to travel to Manila for this purpose is entirely voluntary. However if you can take part in the meeting with Director Tschetter you will be most welcome. "

Commentary: Colombia RPCV Joanne Roll writes on April 17: "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."


Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter flew to Manila to support the search for missing PCV

Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter flies to Manila to support search for missing PCV

U.S. Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter, who is in the Philippines to assist the search for Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, speaks with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the presidential palace in Manila April 18, 2007. Tschetter is in the country to help seek a missing American Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, 40, from Fairfax, Virginia in a northern mountain town where she disappeared during a solo hike more than a week ago. Philippine soldiers later found a body believed to be Campbell. Photo: Reuters/Cheryl Ravel

Notice Regarding Arrival of Peace Corps Director Ronald Tschetter

This message from Country Director Karl Beck is being sent to all Peace Corps Philippines Volunteers.

Peace Corps Director Ronald Tschetter has been following very closely the search efforts to find Julia Campbell. Mr. Tschetter is deeply concerned to make available all possible support for the search and to express his solidarity directly to PC Philippines Volunteers and staff. He will come to the Philippines this week to gain first hand information and to meet with Volunteers, PC staff, Embassy officials, and the Philippine Government leaders who are helping us.

From the evening of April 11 when Julia was reported overdue, we have had the highest possible level of assistance from Peace Corps Washington. Tonight, David Berry, a specialist in search investigations will arrive in the Philippines to lend his expertise to the ongoing search efforts in Ifugao Province. Tomorrow, Robert Kirkhorn, the Director of Peace Corps' Office of Special Services, will arrive in Manila to be available to counsel Volunteers and to help our staff in responding to Volunteers' questions and requests for help.

Director Tschetter is presently finalizing arrangements to be in Manila this week. He has asked us to invite Philippines PCVs to meet with him in the PC office around mid-week at a time still to be fixed.

This message is intended to give you news of this invitation as early as possible. By tomorrow, Monday April 16, we will inform you of the actual date and time. We understand that not all Volunteers will be able to depart their sites on this short notice, and the decision whether to travel to Manila for this purpose is entirely voluntary. However if you can take part in the meeting with Director Tschetter you will be most welcome.




Colombia RPCV Joanne Roll writes: "What a tremendous response from Peace Corps to this very serious situation. I think this makes all the difference."

Peace Corps Online

"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 indifferent 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 founded to support them. I would hope that the changes in safety and security made by former agency head, Gaddi Vasquez, 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."

Colombia RPCV Joanne Roll writes: What a tremendous response from Peace Corps to this very serious situation

Caption: In this photo released by the Malacanang palace, Philippine President GLoria Macapagal Arroyo, right, welcomes Ronald Tschetter, director of the United States Peace Corps, during a courtesy call at the palace in Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. Tschetter is in the country to help seek a missing American Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, 40, from Fairfax, Virginia in a northern mountain town where she disappeared during a solo hike more than a week ago. Philippine soldiers later found a body believed to be Campbell. (AP Photo/Malacanang, Rey Baniquet, HO)

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 indifferent 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 founded to support them. I would hope that the changes in safety and security made by former agency head, Gaddi Vasquez, 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.

[PCOL Comment: Ron Tschetter is the third RPCV to become Director of the Peace Corps. Carol Bellamy served as a volunteer in Guatemala from 1963 to 1965 and served as Peace Corps Director from 1993 to 1995. Mark Schneider served as a volunteer in El Salvador from 1966 to 1968 and served as Peace Corps Director from 1999 to 2001.]

[About the Writer: Joanne Roll served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia in the 1960's and is the author of Remember with Honor and Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger and has been a frequent contributor to "Peace Corps Online."]





Overview of the Search: PCOL Front Page Headlines

Peace Corps Online

Read the front page headlines posted on "Peace Corps Online" as the situation developed for an overview of the search for Julia Campbell.

Overview of the Search: PCOL Front Page Headlines



4/14/2007
Peace Corps Volunteer missing in Philippines Date: April 14 2007 No: 1089 Peace Corps Volunteer missing in Philippines
The Philippine police and military are searching for Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell missing since April 8 in a mountainous northern area about 160 miles north of Manila. Julia Campbell, 40, was last seen in the town of Banaue in Ifugao province, where she had planned to hike alone. The area is famed for its mountainside rice terraces and pine forests. The New People's Army also operates there. Related Stories: Volunteer Walter Poirier III has been missing in Bolivia since 2001. PCV Richard Starr was held hostage in Colombia over two years. More on Safety and Security.








4/15/2007
Peace Corps Volunteer missing in Philippines Date: April 15 2007 No: 1096 Peace Corps Volunteer missing in Philippines
The Philippine police and military are searching for Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell missing since April 8 in a mountainous northern area about 160 miles north of Manila. Julia Campbell, 40, was last seen in the town of Banaue in Ifugao province, where she had planned to hike alone. The area is famed for its mountainside rice terraces and pine forests. The New People's Army also operates there. Latest: No breakthroughs in second day of search. Tschetter to travel to Philippines.







4/16/2007

PCV missing one week in Philippines Date: April 16 2007 No: 1101 PCV missing one week in Philippines
The Philippine police and military continue their search for Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell missing for one week in a mountainous area about 160 miles north of Manila. Campbell, 40, was last seen in Banaue on April 8 and reportedly intended to hike in a hilly area near Battad, 1.5 km east of Banaue town, and was unaccompanied. Police describe the terrain around Battad as very rough, with steep slopes, deep ravines and often obscured by fog. Latest: No breakthroughs after three days of search. Tschetter arrives in Philippines on Monday.







4/18/2007
Peace Corps Volunteer is found dead Date: April 18 2007 No: 1104 Peace Corps Volunteer is found dead
Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Philippine authorities will make the final pronouncement of cause of death. 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: Foul play is suspected in the death.







4/19/2007
Peace Corps Volunteer is found dead Date: April 19 2007 No: 1105 Peace Corps Volunteer is found dead
Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Philippine authorities will make the final pronouncement of cause of death. 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: Police search for a suspect. Leave your thoughts on this tragedy.







4/21/2007
Peace Corps Volunteer is found dead Date: April 21 2007 No: 1107 Peace Corps Volunteer is found dead
Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. The autopsy confirms Campbell died from severe beatings to the head and police are treating the death as a murder. 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: Police continue their search for a missing suspect. Leave your thoughts and condolences .







4/27/2007
Suspect confesses in murder of PCV Date: April 27 2007 No: 1109 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 .








Chronological Listing of Stories on the search for Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell

Peace Corps Online

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 .









Links to Related Topics (Tags):

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





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


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Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
PCOL serves half million Date: May 1 2007 No: 1120 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.

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Suspect confesses in murder of PCV Date: April 27 2007 No: 1109 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 Date: April 15 2007 No: 1095 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."

March 14, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Date: March 14 2007 No: 1074 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

February 23, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Date: February 24 2007 No: 1070 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

The Peace Corps Library Date: July 11 2006 No: 923 The Peace Corps Library
The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory or leave a message on our Bulletin Board. New: Sign up to receive our free Monthly Magazine by email, research the History of the Peace Corps, or sign up for a daily news summary of Peace Corps stories. FAQ: Visit our FAQ for more information about PCOL.

Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Date: September 23 2006 No: 996 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 Date: September 12 2006 No: 983 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.

Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director Date: September 6 2006 No: 978 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.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance Date: August 19 2006 No: 964 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 Date: July 31 2006 No: 947 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% Date: April 3 2006 No: 853 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 Date: March 18 2006 No: 834 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: PCOL Exclusive

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Philippines; Safety; Crime; Murder; Journalism; Speaking Out

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By Anonymous (rrcs-74-62-255-193.west.biz.rr.com - 74.62.255.193) on Saturday, June 02, 2007 - 8:17 pm: Edit Post

Its sad that something like this has happened to someone as kind and giving as Julia Campbell. I have opened businesses in the Philippines and this makes me think twice about keeping my businesses in a country where such security issues remain even to this day. I urge the Philippines government to take quick action to prevent something like this from ever happening again. This will definitely hurt your tourism industry at a time when you so desperately need it to sustain your economy.

Sincerely yours,

James Santos


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