Troops find body of US Peace Corps worker in Ifugao

Army troopers on Wednesday found the body of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell in Barangay Batad, Banaue town in Ifugao province. In a text message to reporters, 5th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang said that Campbell's body was found around 10:30 a.m. No other details were immediately made available. Earlier, the Philippine national police chief ruled out the involvement of communist rebels in the disappearance of a US Peace Corps volunteer, saying that the woman may have fallen off a cliff while hiking alone more than a week ago. Police have deployed 32 members of the Special Action Force who are familiar with the area and can speak the local language. The group, normally used in counter-insurgency and emergencies, is trained to maneuver in rough terrain, including rappelling down ravines and cliffs. The military also deployed a canine tracking team to the village of Batad, in Banaue town in Ifugao province, where Campbell was last seen April 8, Maclang said Tuesday. Officials promised US Peace Corps Director Ronald Tschetter that there will be no let-up in the search for Campbell. Tschetter flew by helicopter Tuesday over Batad and later drove to the area, about 160 miles north of Manila, Ifugao provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Pedro Ganir said by telephone. "Now they have an idea of how difficult the search operation is," Ganir said, referring to the deep ravines and forests in the area. Ganir said Campbell, wearing blue denim jeans, black shirt and a shawl, was last seen buying soda from a local store. She was only wearing sandals and had bought a bus ticket to return to Manila by April 9, indicating she did not plan on extending her stay or making a long hike to a spot to view the Banaue's famed mountainside rice terraces, he said. The US Embassy had earlier offered a $10,000 reward for information on Campbell. -GMANews.TV