• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Police said July 15 that they have identified the suspects behind the robbery-homicide of world-renowned American marine biologist, Dr. Kent Carpenter, who was gunned down inside his home in Barangay Ajong, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, July 12.
P/Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, confirmed that a manhunt is ongoing.
Authorities have withheld the suspects’ identities so as not to compromise the ongoing operations.
“We are pursuing all the suspects, initially three; however, right now, we are eyeing another number of suspects,” Polinar said in a presser via zoom. “Right now, as per the development of the case, the NORPPO is pursuing all the identified suspects of the robbery with homicide incident.”
Polinar said that Carpenter’s live-in partner, who survived the break-in late Sunday and is serving as key witness, positively identified the suspects.
Per autopsy result, Carpenter, 73, sustained two fatal gunshot wounds. One bullet entered the right side of his head and exited the left, while the second struck his eye and exited at the back of his head.
Investigators recovered a bullet from a .45-caliber firearm and lifted fingerprints from the crime scene.
The police said the three suspects fled with P50,000 in cash, a Microsoft Surface laptop, and a pair of binoculars.
They also took the live-in partner’s backpack, which contained an additional P25,000 in cash, ATM cards, IDs, and a passport.
Polinar said they are treating the case as robbery with homicide, though this could change as the investigation progresses.
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region already activated Special Investigation Task Group Carpenter to spearhead the manhunt and coordinate all intelligence-gathering efforts. | TMD
