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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Fourth suspect in murder of American marine biologist yields

Fourth suspect in murder of American marine biologist yields

Published Jul 17, 2026 04:52 pm
POLICE Col. Timmar Alam, Negros Oriental police director, visits the wake of Dr. Kent E. Carpenter in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Friday, July 17. (Negros Oriental police)
POLICE Col. Timmar Alam, Negros Oriental police director, visits the wake of Dr. Kent E. Carpenter in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Friday, July 17. (Negros Oriental police)
BACOLOD CITY – The fourth suspect in the killing of 73-year-old American marine biologist Dr. Kent E. Carpenter surrendered to the police before midnight on Thursday, July 16.
Police Capt. Stephen Polinar, Negros Oriental police spokesperson, said the suspect was a 21-year-old man from Barangay Ajong, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, who sought the assistance of barangay officials in his surrender.
Polinar said the suspect allegedly served as a lookout.
He said police have accounted four out of five suspects and they have been charged with robbery with homicide before the Prosecutor’s Office.
Twenty-six-year-old Mark, and 40-year-old Jal, both residents of Barangay Ajong, were arrested in hot pursuit operation on Wednesday, July 16, and were subjected to inquest proceedings, along with the two other suspects, who surrendered.
Authorities are pursuing one more suspect.
The victim was robbed of P75,000 cash, laptop, and binocular.
Polinar said that rape charges will also be filed against the individual who allegedly molested Carpenter’s 34-year-old Filipina live-in partner.
He noted that negative medical examination result does not conclude that no molestation occurred. It is part of the investigation to also establish if there was conspiracy in the alleged rape incident, he added.
Carpenter was shot dead by one of the perpetrators in the head in the living room.
Police Col. Timmar Alam, Negros Oriental police director, visited the wake of Carpenter at the Garden of Saints, Camanjac, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Friday. He extended condolences and offered prayers.
The Negros Oriental police coordinated with the bereaved family to assess possible assistance they may provide.
Carpenter, a professor emeritus of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University, served as a pivotal scientific advisor to the Philippines during the West Philippine Sea arbitration case. He provided reports, testimonials, satellite imagery, and video evidence on the state of coral reefs in the area.
He also worked with Siliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, as a research associate, studying the rich marine ecosystems of the Philippines.

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Dr. Kent Carpenter Sibulan Negros Oriental
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