American marine biologist who supported PH in South China Sea issue shot dead
American marine biologist Kent Carpenter was shot dead on July 12 in his residence in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
In a press release by the Philippine National Police Regional Office in Negros Island Region, Carpenter was in his home at 11:30 p.m. watching TV with a Filipino companion when three male suspects forcibly entered the victim’s residence.
One of the suspects, armed with a handgun, allegedly shot the 73-year-old American national in the head, resulting in his death. His 34-year-old Filipino companion, meanwhile, only sustained injuries during the incident and is now undergoing medical and forensic examination.
The agency detailed that the suspects remain unidentified, but assured that they have activated a Special Investigation Task Group composed of investigators and other specialized units that will "focus on case buildup, intelligence gathering, evidence processing, and the immediate identification and arrest of the perpetrators."
For now, both victims will undergo forensic examinations to establish all relevant medico-legal findings that may aid in the investigation.
Investigators are also conducting backtracking and forward tracking operations, such as analyzing possible CCTV footage, witness interviews, intelligence validation, and reconstruction of the suspects’ movements before and after the incident.
"Police authorities continue to pursue all possible leads and motives behind the attack. Coordination with other law enforcement units and partner agencies has also been strengthened to facilitate the immediate identification and arrest of the suspects," the agency said.
Regional Director PBGEN Romano Cardiño condemned the incident as a "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," he stressed.
Carpenter was known for having two fish species named in his honor: the Paracheilinus carpenteri Randall and Lubbock 1981, popularly known as "Carpenter's flasher wrasse", and Meganthias carpenteri Anderson 2006, popularly known as Carpenter's Yellowtop Jewelfish.
As a marine biologist, he took a special interest in the Philippines, doing fieldwork in the country that included research and conservation work of local marine species.
He is also notable for having fought for the Philippines during its case against China over territorial disputes involving the South China Sea. During hearings in 2015, he provided expert reports and testified before the tribunal in The Hague.
Eventually, they found that China's sweeping "nine-dash line" claim has no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.