Stunk is the principal suspect in the murder of his wife, actress Nida Blanca.
Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez said the legal team handling the case began preparing a report on the matter to be submitted to President Arroyo soon.
Gutierrez told reporters that the DOJ could justify its position that it did its best to have Strunk extradited.
On Tuesday, Gutierrez told the Senate that the case would be refiled before another United States court with additional evidence.
She again asked Blanca’s family and friends to cooperate with the DOJ investigation to strengthen the case against Strunk.
A lot of people who could shed light on the murder have failed to come out and execute their affidavits, she said.
"We will do everything to gather new witnesses, new affidavits and documents to be submitted to the US court," Gutierrez said.
She said gathering new evidence is not necessarily an admission that the evidence previously submitted to the California District Court was insufficient.
US magistrate Gregory Hollows rejected the Philippines’ extradition request on Nov. 12 due to the "conflicting and inconsistent evidence" submitted by the DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Gutierrez said US justice department officials advised Philippine authorities to refile the case, rather than appeal Hollows’ decision.
She said the government might finally get a favorable ruling on Strunk’s extradition if another court handles the case.
Gutierrez also denied sending an emissary to Blanca’s only daughter, Kaye Torres, to convince her to stop lambasting the NBI and DOJ.
She said there is no need for her to send an emissary to Torres, since she has made public her appeal for Torres to sit down with her and talk.
But Gutierrez maintained the NBI and DOJ were not remiss in their duties in having Strunk extradited. She said it was just a matter of appreciation of evidence on the part of the US court.
NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco, however, said he sent emissaries to Torres, though he refused to identify them.
"We are reaching out to Ms. Kaye Torres and Justice Harriet Demetriou (Torres’ lawyer) so that, together, we can wage an unwavering quest for peace and justice for Ms. Nida Blanca," Wycoco said.
He also assured Torres and Demetriou that the NBI will do everything it can to bring justice to Blanca, who was stabbed dead on Nov. 7, 2001.
Blanca’s body bore 13 stab wounds and was found inside her car parked on the sixth floor parking area of the Atlanta Centre in Greenhills, San Juan town.
Senate President Franklin Drilon has also asked Torres to cooperate with the NBI and DOJ to ensure Strunk’s extradition to face the murder charges filed against him here.
"This is not just a case of Blanca’s relatives and friends, but of all Filipinos," Drilon said. "We won’t stop until justice is given to her death."