Suspect in Campbell case surrenders, confesses to slay

(Update) Woodcarver Juan Duntugan has confessed to killing US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, a regrettable act which he said was something that he never planned, television reports said. "Hindi ko plano na patayin si Ms Campbell, na saktan siya. Inaamin ko, oo. Iniisip ko napatay ko siya, pero hindi ko inisip na, di ko ginawa na kung ano man yung iniisip nung mga ibang ginawa ko. Hindi totoo yan," said a grief-stricken Duntugan, apparently referring to allegations that he raped the victim. (I neither planned to kill nor hurt Ms Campbell. Yes, I admit, I killed her. But it never crossed my mind, I never thought of doing whatever it is they think I did. That's not true.) Duntugan, 25, turned himself over to the Ifugao police more than a week after authorities started scouring the northern Luzon mountains for him. His confession was made on a television interview, although it was unclear if he issued the same statements to the police and if a lawyer was present. Accompanied by his mother, Jane, the suspect surrendered to the Cordillera police at around 3:20 p.m. Friday. Superintendent Joseph Adnol, spokesman for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) police, said Duntugan is currently undergoing tactical interrogation. Adnol added that Duntugan will be treated both as a suspect and a witness. He added that Duntugan will be free to leave after speaking with authorities. "We have no ground to hold him because there is no arrest warrant. We will interview him first," Adnol said. Adnol said the police were able to convince Jane to bring Juan before the police, saying it was better that the suspect surrender so he could clear his name. "We hope he can contribute so we can have a clearer picture of what happened to the victime. We hope he'll tell the truth," he added. Police earlier said three eyewitnesses – all minors – saw Duntugan carry what appeared to be Campbell's bag and later flee the shallow grave where the victim was buried in Batad village in Banaue, Ifugao. Duntugan owned the refreshments store in Batad where Campbell was seen buying a soft drink. His confession came a day after the Philippine National Police Criminal Laboratory Service said evidence from the crime scene and Duntugan's home were inconclusive as rain, time and other factors degraded its integrity and reliability. - GMANews.TV