PNP: Three suspects in slay of marine biologist Kent Carpenter arrested

MANILA, Philippines — Three suspects in the killing of American biologist Kent Carpenter have been arrested, the Philippine National Police said. 

In a press briefing on Thursday, July 16, Philippine National Police Spokesperson Allen Rae Co said that two of the suspects were arrested by the Negros Island Region Police. 

One of the suspects voluntarily surrendered, according to Co. 

"The Regional Director of Police Regional Office NIR (Negros Island Region), Police Brigadier General (Romano) Cardiño, reported to the chief PNP that they've already arrested three of the four suspects in the killing of the American marine biologists," Co said in a press conference. 

According to authorities, the apprehended suspects are the following: 

• alias "M.O.," who is the suspected gunman; 
• alias "J.F.," accused of sexually abusing the victim's common-law partner
• alias "C.D.," who allegedly served as the lookout.

Robbery gone wrong

According to the Co, the crime occurred around noon on July 12, when armed men broke into the victim's residence. 

While investigators initially eyed multiple possibilities, current evidence strongly points to a "robbery gone wrong" rather than a targeted hit related to the victim’s scientific work or involvement in maritime disputes.

"As of now, this points to the fact that the crime is not related to the occupation or the work of our victim,” Co said. 

Information provided by the surrendered lookout, alias "C.D.," corroborated the statement of the victim's surviving live-in partner. 

The suspect recounted that the group entered the home at approximately 11:30 a.m. Alias "M.O." immediately shot the American biologist, while alias "JF" dragged the partner into a separate room, where she was allegedly sexually assaulted.

While the provincial director's initial report suggested no sexual abuse occurred, Co clarified that the early assessment was based on an incomplete medical check by a municipal health officer. 

“It was properly done, but it was not a complete rape kit or rape evaluation or assessment or examination,” Co said. 

Carpenter, an American marine biologist whose research crowned the Philippines as the center of global marine biodiversity, was shot dead inside his home in Negros Oriental on Sunday night, July 12.

Carpenter was a highly distinguished ichthyologist (zoologist who studies fish) who made several contributions to marine conservation in the world.

He co-authored the 2005 study that identified the Verde Island Passage as the "center of marine shore fish biodiversity," a finding that boosted the Philippines' standing in global marine science.  

Recently, the American national was among those who advocated for the designation of the Verde Island Passage as a World Heritage Site.