PNP identifies person of interest in killing of US scientist Kent Carpenter

Police already have a person of interest in the killing of an American scientist and businessman in Negros Oriental.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras,” the Philippine National Police has created a special investigation task group to look into the shooting to death of Kent Carpenter at his house in Sibulan town on July 12.

Investigation showed that Carpenter, 73, was watching TV at his home on Sunday when three suspects barged in and shot him. His companion was allegedly tied up and raped, police said.

Before leaving, the suspects ransacked the home and robbed the victims.

“May mga kinuha na mga gamit doon, laptop, some cash and isang backpack containing some IDs. ‘Yun lang po then umalis na ‘yung mga salarin,” said Police Col. Allan Rae Co of the PNP Public Information Office.

(Some items were taken from there: a laptop, some cash, and a backpack containing some IDs. That was it, and then the suspects left.)

The PNP identified Carpenter as a businessman who had been visiting the Philippines since 1975.

As for the motive, PNP Pubic Information Office officer in charge Police Col. Allen Rae Co said, “It could be connected doon sa kanyang trabaho, pwedeng sa personal life, pwedeng sa business.”

“‘Yun po titingnan natin lahat or it could be normal talagang robbery lang,” Co said.

(It could be connected to his work, it could be his personal life, or it could be business. We are going to look into all of that—or it could really just be a standard robbery.)

Investigators already have a person of interest, but the PNP refused to clarify if the individual is one of the three men who broke into the victims' home or the mastermind behind the crime.

Carpenter was a marine biologist who testified on destructive fishing activities in the West Philippine Sea in the arbitration case that upheld the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, and that invalidated China’s claims in 2016.

He was also among those who conducted the study identifying the Verde Island Passage between Southern Luzon and MIMAROPA as the "Center of marine shore fish diversity" in the world, and had actively advocated for its conservation.

Maritime law expert Atty. Jay Batongbacal said that the biologist had a long history in the Philippine scientific community and in the marine conservation programs and projects in the country.

“For this to happen on the evening of the 10th anniversary of the arbitration he helped the country win is just shocking. Whoever the perpetrators are, they must be brought to justice,” Batongbacal said. –Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/NB, GMA News