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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Slain Marine biologist was expert witness in 2016 Arbitral Award

Slain Marine biologist was expert witness in 2016 Arbitral Award

Published Jul 15, 2026 03:09 pm
BACOLOD CITY – Marine biologist Dr. Kent Carpenter was one of two expert witnesses presented by the Philippines during in the 2016 Arbitral Award.
The University of the Philippines (UP) Marine Science Institute (MSI), in a Facebook post, said Carpenter was a pivotal scientific advisor to the Philippines during the arbitration case.
Carpenter provided reports, testimonials, satellite imagery, and video evidence on the state of coral reefs in the disputed area.
He also paved way for the Philippines to earn the acclaim of being the "center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity.”
His pioneering studies on Philippine coral reefs, associated fish, and fisheries are foundational to coral reef ecology and advocated for the designation of an important part of this "center," the Verde Island Passage, as a National Protected Area and a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site.
Carpenter lent his expertise to the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, having joined several fish surveys and published papers on the area since 2018.
The UP MSI mourned the sudden, untimely loss of Carpenter and urged justice for his death. “We join the marine science community in shared grief and the collective call for justice to be served.”
The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office is looking at robbery as a motive in the killing of the 73-year-old American over the weekend. His live-in partner was wounded in the gun attack.
In a phone interview on Wednesday, July 15, Police Col. Timmar Alam, Negros Oriental police director and head of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG), said that some valuables were reported missing in the victim’s house in Barangay Ajong, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, among them P75,000 cash, laptop, and a binocular.
Alam said the suspects might have passed through the terrace at the back of the victim’s house as there was no forcible entry noted.
There are three suspects but two more persons were alleged lookouts.
Alam said the victim’s 34-year-old live-in partner was initially tagged as a person of interest, being his companion when the incident happened, but she later became a witness.
“We gave time for the witness to recall everything,” he added.
The couple did not notice any suspicious individuals in the area before the incident.

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2016 Arbitral Award Dr. Kent Carpenter
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