POLICE have arrested three of the four suspects allegedly involved in the killing of Dr. Kent Edward Carpenter, a 73-year-old American marine biologist based in Negros Oriental who was slain on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
During a press conference on Thursday, July 16, Philippine National Police (PNP) Public Information Office Chief Col. Allen Rae Co identified those arrested as the 21-year-old alleged gunman known only as “Alias Mo,” “Alias JF,” who allegedly sexually assaulted the victim’s live-in partner, and a lookout.
“The lookout’s narrative corroborates the statement of the live-in partner. They entered the house at around 11:30 p.m. Alias Mo immediately shot our American victim. Alias JF then took the live-in partner to a room, where she was allegedly raped or sexually assaulted, while the third suspect acted as the lookout,” the police official said in a mix of Tagalog and English.
“All indicators, as of this time, point to the fact that this is just a robbery gone wrong. We are still looking at all angles, but as of now this points to the fact the crime is not related to the victim’s occupation or work,” he added.
Co also clarified earlier reports that appeared to contradict the live-in partner’s claim that she had been sexually assaulted.
“It turns out the report received by the (PNP Negros) provincial director initially came from the health officer of Sibulan. It was properly done but it was not a complete rape evaluation or assessment or examination that was done,” he said.
Co said the victim’s live-in partner will undergo a more comprehensive medical examination as part of standard procedure to determine whether she was sexually assaulted during the incident.
The examination is expected to provide a clearer assessment of her condition and help investigators verify the allegations against one of the suspects.
Carpenter was killed inside his home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, on the night of July 12 while he and his live-in partner were watching television. He was shot in the head at close range.
The three suspects were arrested in the same town, while one alleged accomplice remains at large.
According to Co, one of the suspects had previously performed repair work at the couple’s residence, which may have allowed him to familiarize himself with the property before the attack.
A globally recognized marine scientist, Carpenter made significant contributions to marine biodiversity research in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. He also played a key role in the Philippines’ successful arbitration case against China over the West Philippine Sea, serving as one of the country’s scientific expert witnesses before the arbitral tribunal. (TPM)