Judge eyes delay in Campbell case

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The failure of a reporter of ABS-CBN Channel 2 to appear as witness in the on-going trial of the murder of United States Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell in Ifugao province, is expected to delay the resolution of the case. 

Judge Ester Piscoso Flor of the Banaue Regional Trial Court expressed disappointment over a possible delay of the murder trial of 25-year-old Juan Donald Duntugan, self-confessed killer of Campbell who was reported missing on April 8, 2008 while hiking at Batad, Banaue, and was later found dead.

Flor said the repeated absence of ABS-CBN reporter Jay Ruiz would disrupt the court’s timetable of coming out with the promulgation of a decision in June this year.

“It definitely will have an effect which is why I issued a bench warrant on motion of the prosecution for him to testify during the next hearing on March 3,” Flor said. 

Observers said that the case was very important since it impinges on the country’s image, especially how the justice system works here, aside from the fact that the United States government is keenly monitoring the case. Earlier, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said they were satisfied so far with how the trial was progressing. 

Meanwhile, in a cellphone interview with mediamen here the other day, Ruiz had expressed surprise at reports about the bench warrant for his arrest issued during the last hearing, saying he had not been informed about the previous hearings.

He expressed willingness to testify during the next hearing on March 3. 

“I had not been snubbing the court. I am more than willing to testify in the said hearing, since first of all I had been instrumental in the surrender of Duntugan in the first place,” Ruiz said.

Flor said she would withdraw the warrant she issued for Ruiz’s forced appearance in court if the reporter fulfills his promise to attend the next hearing.

“His failure to continue his testimony is delaying the trial and it will become useless if he is not cross-examined,” Flor said.

After being presented as a witness by the prosecution last October, wherein he testified about his interview with Duntugan before the latter surrendered to police, Ruiz was unable to return to the witness stand while representatives of ABS-CBN submitted for him a video clip of the interview of the murder suspect’s confession. Ruiz was reportedly working on news coverage. 

In the last hearing, the prosecution presented Duntugan’s father-in-law Francis Binalit who was supposed to be their last witness before wrapping up their case. 

Binalit told the court that he had given a bolo to Duntugan, not knowing that he would use it against Campbell. The prosecution also had the bolo submitted as an exhibit in the case.