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BAGUIO CITY: Juan Dontugan, the prime suspect
in the killing of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, pleaded
not guilty of murder at his arraignment Wednesday.
Dontugan came face to face with a
group of Baguio-based lawyers representing the family of Campbell
when he entered in the court for his arraignment in the capital town
of Lagawe.
Sources said Dontugan seemed
relax and did not show any sign of stress when he entered the court
and there was no tight security for him.
The start of the formal court
hearing on the Campbell case was set on July 23, the source said.
The family of Campbell had a
teleconference with the lawyers of Agranzamendez-Liceralde-Gallardo
& Associates on Monday in preparation for the scheduled
arraignment of Dontugan. The lawyers, who will form the prosecution
panel, updated the family members about the case.
The US Peace Corps has chosen
Baguio-based lawyers Reynaldo Agranzamendez and Miguel Liceralde Sr.
as the lead counsels with Rey Glen Agranzamendez, Miguel Liceralde
Jr. and Cres Manuel Liceralde completing the panel.
Campbell was reported missing
after hiking solo in Barangay Batad, Banaue, Ifugao, on April 8; her
body was recovered from a shallow grave 10 days later.
Dontugan voluntarily yielded to
authorities almost two weeks after the body of Campbell was
discovered and owed responsibility in the killing.
In Baguio, Senior Supt. Wilfredo
Franco, head of the Investigation and Detective Management of the
Cordillera police, admitted that pressure from the US government and
Camp Crame led to the swift identification of the suspect.
“Intensified intelligence and
detective works put too much pressure on the suspect [forcing him to
surrender],” Franco told reporters during the Talakayan sa Isyung
Pulis media forum on Wednesday.
He added that strong support from
concerned villagers resulted in the voluntary surrender of Dontugan
after a series of negotiations.
--Harley Palangchao
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