An American national was shot dead in Sibulan town in Negros Oriental by three suspects who barged into his house late evening on July 12, 2026.

His Filipino companion was wounded.

This was confirmed by the Police Regional Office in Negros Island Region (NIR) in a media release on July 14.

PRO-NIR said the three suspects entered the victims’ home in Barangay Ajong around 11:30 p.m. while the victims were watching television.

One of suspects shot the American in the head, which resulted in his death.

In a report on Super Radyo dzBB, the victim was identified as Kent Edward Carpenter, 73.

Based on information gathered by GMA Regional TV News, Carpenter was a marine biologist and has long been staying in the Philippines.

PRO-NIR said it has formed a special investigation task group, SITG Carpenter, to look deeply into the incident.

“Forensic examinations are underway for both victims to establish all relevant medico-legal findings that may aid in the investigation. Investigators are likewise conducting backtracking and forward tracking operations, including the review of possible CCTV footage, witness interviews, intelligence validation, and reconstruction of the suspects’ movements before and after the incident,” PRO-NIR said.

PRO-NIR Director, BGen. Romano Cardiño, assured the public, as well as foreign visitors, that the police are treating the case with utmost urgency.

“We strongly condemn this senseless act of violence. I have directed our investigators to exhaust all legal means to identify and apprehend those responsible at the soonest possible time. We assure the victim’s family, the community, and our foreign visitors that this case is being treated with utmost urgency, and no effort will be spared until justice is served,” Cardiño said.

'EXCEPTIONAL SCIENTIST'

In a statement released on July 14, Silliman University in Dumaguete City said Carpenter was a research associate who worked closely with faculty, researchers, and students of the Biology Department, the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences, and the SU Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management. 

He brought to Silliman his expertise in ichthyology, marine biodiversity, systematics, conservation biology, and evolutionary research.

The university described Carpente as an "exceptional scientist whose life’s work advanced the understanding and conservation of marine biodiversity around the world."

Silliman said Carpenter made groundbreaking contributions that transformed global understanding of Philippine marine biodiversity. 

"Among others, his research identified the central Philippines, particularly the Verde Island Passage, as the world’s 'Center of the Center' of marine shore fish diversity," the school said.

"For nearly five decades, Dr. Carpenter maintained a close relationship with SU. His collaboration with the University began in 1976 when he worked alongside the late National Scientist Dr. Angel C. Alcala and fellow marine scientists in pioneering studies on the rich marine ecosystems of the Philippines. Their partnership helped establish SU as an internationally respected center for marine and coastal research and contributed significantly to the scientific understanding of coral reef biodiversity, reef fish ecology, fisheries sustainability, and marine conservation," the university said.

Carpenter reportedly opened opportunities for Filipino graduate students and researchers to collaborate with leading international institutions through the Partnerships for International Research and Education program.

"Among his most significant recent contributions was his leadership of the Albatross Re-Collection Project, a landmark evolutionary genomics research initiative that revisits the historic collections of the U.S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross, which surveyed Philippine waters more than a century ago. In collaboration with SU’s Biology Department and an international team of scientists, the project combines historical museum collections, modern genomic technologies, and contemporary field expeditions to examine how Philippine marine biodiversity has changed over the past 120 years in response to fishing pressure, habitat degradation, and climate change," Silliman said. 

Carpenter also collaborated with university researchers on studies addressing contemporary environmental challenges, including coral reef conservation, fisheries management, and marine pollution.

Silliman said his work on the ecology and fisheries of rabbitfish (Siganus fuscescens), including investigations into the impacts of microplastics on marine organisms in Negros Oriental, exemplified his commitment to producing science that directly informs conservation and sustainable resource management.