Carpenter Murder Suspect Surrenders to Negros Oriental Police

MANILA, Philippines — Another suspect in the murder of American marine biologist Kent Edward Carpenter surrendered to the Negros Oriental police yesterday morning. Col. Allen Rae Co, spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP), clarified that the surrenderee was not “alias Eden,” but another lookout for the group who barged into the house of Carpenter in Sibulan town on Sunday night. Earlier, the PNP identified “alias Eden” as the fourth suspect and the subject of a manhunt by the Negros Island Region police. “It now appears that there are five suspects,” Co said. The fourth suspect opted to surrender out of guilt, and wanted to shed light on the incident, Co added. On Wednesday, Mark Bucog and Jal Filipinas were arrested for robbery with homicide related to the case, while Ciem Diputado surrendered on Thursday. Police said Bucog allegedly shot dead Carpenter while Filipinas reportedly sexually assaulted the victim’s partner. Diputado reportedly acted as a lookout. Co urged people who have information about “alias Eden” to coordinate with authorities. Col. Timmar Alam, Negros Oriental police director, and his men yesterday visited Carpenter’s wake in Dumaguete. Meanwhile, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna described Carpenter as a “pillar of Philippine marine conservation.” The DENR has condoled with Carpenter’s family, friends and colleagues as well as the global marine science community, which recognized his work on the conservation of the country’s marine biodiversity. Cuna paid tribute to Carpenter’s decades-long partnership with the Philippines in expanding scientific knowledge on the country’s coral reefs and marine ecosystems. By collaborating with Filipino scientists including the late National Scientist and former DENR chief Angel Alcala, Carpenter helped document the country’s extraordinary marine wealth, especially the Verde Island Passage. Among Carpenter’s significant contributions were his research on Tubbataha Reefs and other Philippine marine ecosystems. — Josiah Antonio