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BAGUIO CITY: A maximum prison term of 40 years and
payment of almost P40 million was slapped by a regional trial court
against the prime suspect in the killing of United States Peace
Corps volunteer Julia Campbell.
Judge Esther Pisoco-Flor of the
Banaue, Ifugao Regional Trial Court Branch 34, in a 36-page
decision, found Juan Duntugan guilty beyond reasonable doubt over
the murder case filed against him by lawyers of Campbell.
Duntugan has been slapped with a
punishment of reclusion perpetua, meaning imprisonment ranging from
20 years and one day to 40 years.
The court also ordered Duntogan
to pay civil liabilities and damages amounting to almost P40
million, according to lawyer Glenn Agranzamendez of
Agranzamendez-Liceralde-Gallardo & Associates, who represented
the prosecution panel.
The court decision refuted the
claim of Duntugan that he mistook Campbell as his archrival, saying
that the suspect was able to recognize one of his villagemates
minutes after he dumped the body of Campbell.
The decision ruled that Duntugan
is guilty of “treachery and use of superior strength” even as
the suspect defended that the murder was caused by “a
spur-of-the-moment” anger.
Duntugan will appeal the decision
of the court, his lawyer Eugene Ballitang told reporters.
It took almost a year and two
months before the verdict was rendered after Duntugan reportedly
killed Campbell while hiking solo in Battad Rice Terraces in Banaue
town on April 8, 2007.
Rescuers discovered the body of
Campbell of Fairfax, Virginia 10 days after the killing.
While Duntugan surrendered to
authorities almost two weeks after the body of Campbell was
discovered and owed responsibility in the killing, he opted to enter
a “not guilty” plea during his arraignment.
The victim’s sibling, Geary
Campbell-Morris, who was present when the verdict was rendered, was
quoted as saying that their family, relatives and supporters are
happy with the decision of the court.
The victim’s mother, Linda
Campbell, was not present although she was in the country to attend
court proceedings.
At the date of her killing,
Campbell was one of 137 US Peace Corps volunteers currently serving
in the country. Since its inception, the US Peace Corps dispatched
more than 8,000 volunteers to the Philippines since 1961.
--Harley F. Palangchao
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