Filipina partner of 'murdered' American biologist, 73, now a suspect
The Filipina partner of an American biologist who was murdered in his home is now a suspect after the alleged gunmen were arrested in the Philippines.
The 34-year-old woman claimed she was watching TV with marine biologist Kent Carpenter, 73, when three armed masked men raided the house in Negros Oriental at around 11:30 pm local time on July 12.
One of the suspects reportedly shot Kent twice in the head with a .45 caliber pistol, killing him at the scene.
The trio were said to have sexually assaulted the woman, whose identity was not disclosed by officials, before tying her up and ransacking the property. They allegedly fled with 75,000 PHP in cash, a laptop, a backpack containing IDs, and a pair of binoculars.
She is seen in the video pointing at the three suspects believed to have been involved in the shooting.
But police said they are now treating the woman as a suspect as they found inconsistencies in her account during the probe.
Police Colonel Timmar Alam, head of the special task group investigating the case, said medical examinations found no signs of sexual assault on the woman.
He said: 'She was subjected to a full vaginal swab and it yielded negative for sexual assault.
'For now, she is still considered a person of interest. Since she was left alive, the robbers are possibly known to her, and she would just not identify them. We are considering those angles.'
Police Colonel Allen Rae Co, spokesman for the Philippine National Police, said there were also no indications of forced entry.
He added: 'Of course, we would also ask, why would you leave a witness? That's unusual.
'She was left relatively unharmed, so of course it would pose questions to the minds of the investigators.'
Police on Thursday said the three suspected robbers have been arrested by authorities in joint raids.
The men were identified as Mark Bucog Oracoy, 26, Ciem Mansing Diputado, 21, and Jal Pianar Filipinas, 40.
Jal was reportedly hired by the American for repair work at the home a few months ago, police said.
The trio face charges of robbery with homicide, while the Filipina partner remains a suspect as the only witness to the alleged killing.
Kent was a distinguished ichthyologist who spent more than 50 years studying Philippine marine life.
He co-authored the landmark 2005 paper that identified the Verde Island Passage as the 'Centre of Marine Shore Fish Biodiversity', boosting the Philippines' reputation as a global marine biodiversity hotspot.
He also served as an adjunct professor and researcher at Silliman University's Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences and had recently supported efforts to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for the Verde Island Passage.
His death sparked an outpouring of grief from Filipino scientists and conservationists.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park said in a tribute: 'Since 2018, Kent has given his time freely to the park, driven by a love for the reef. He was a brilliant scientist who helped us truly understand what we are protecting.
'You are sorely missed, Kent. Sleep with angels.'
Silliman University also expressed its condolences.
The institution said: 'Beyond his remarkable scholarly achievements, Dr Carpenter was a generous mentor, collaborator, and friend to the Silliman community.
'He freely shared his knowledge, encouraged young scientists, and helped cultivate a culture of scientific excellence, international collaboration, and environmental stewardship that continues to shape the University's marine research programs.
'His passing is a tremendous loss not only to his family and colleagues but also to the generations of students, researchers, conservationists, and institutions whose work has been enriched by his intellect, generosity, and unwavering dedication to science.'
