By Ronron
April 26, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday failed to lift fingerprints and detect blood on several materials expected to be used as pieces of evidence in the killing of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell.
PNP Crime Laboratory Director Chief Supt. Arturo Cacdac reported yesterday afternoon that no latent prints were lifted from the following items: two red empty tin cans of sardines; empty cigarette pack; cosmetic sun block; rectangular tin can; white crumpled paper; black synthetic digital camera covering; plastic sunglasses; mineral water bottle; and eyeglasses.
“These items were exposed to sunlight, probably rain, considering the time these were left behind in the area, and the time it was recovered by our police officers,” Cacdac explained.
Campbell was found dead on April 18 at Barangay Battad in Banaue, Ifugao where she was supposed to go on hiking starting April 8. The materials mentioned above were found near the site where was found buried.
Cacdac said also that no blood was found on the pestle (rice pounding wood) and two pairs of maong pants recovered from the house of the suspected killer, Juan Duntogan.
“However, we are still proceeding with the DNA examination to validate the result of the serology examination,” he said.
Cacdac admitted “it is a sad development,” but he said “we’re not losing hope because we’re still pinning our hope that the DNA will yield some results.”
The PNP was hoping to life some fingerprints or detect blood on said materials to provide a direct link between Duntogan and Campbell.
Duntogan, a 25-year-old wood carver, was tagged as a possible suspect after a child pointed at him as the guy carrying Campbell’s bag on April 8. This led police to think that the motive could be robbery.
Asked if the initial laboratory findings indicate that there were no other persons at the crime scene, Cacdac said: “Unfortunately, that’s how it is as of this moment. But we’re still hoping that the DNA examination will yield something – the presence of another set of DNA which will say that there is another person to be identified.”
Reached by phone, Cordillera Region Police Director Chief Supt. Raul Gonzales said the initial findings of the Crime Lab show that police investigators need to exert more effort in gathering evidence.
He said this does not in any way clear out Duntogan from their suspicion.
“It just proves that we need more evidence to pin down whoever did that crime,” Gonzales said.
Although, he admitted that it will slow down their investigation because they have already begun building up a case against Duntogan.
Duntogan remains at large as of Thursday night, said Gonzales. He refused to answer when asked if police knows his whereabouts.
The PNP Crime Lab had already disclosed based on the autopsy on Campbell’s remains that the 40-year-old native of Virginia died due to multiple traumatic blunt injuries to the head.
Campbell was a peace corps volunteer in the country since March 2005./DMS
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