Another suspect in American marine biologist's slay surrenders

MANILA, Philippines — Another suspect in the killing of American marine biologist Kent Carpenter surrendered to the authorities early Friday morning, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

“Another individual surfaced and claimed to be another lookout. They surrendered to our police officers at the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region,” PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co told reporters in an interview in Camp Crame.

“We’ve notified the prosecution, the fiscal. As of now, it appears we have five suspects,” he added.

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READ: 3 nabbed over killing of American marine biologist

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“Perhaps, they felt guilty. Our initial assessment was that there were only four of them. Perhaps, they wanted to make known their participation in the crime,” Co further said.

The suspects allegedly entered Carpenter’s home, killed him, sexually assaulted his live-in partner and stole several personal items in Sibulan town, Negros Oriental over the weekend.

Two of the suspects were arrested last Wednesday night, while a third suspect surrendered early Thursday morning and a fourth suspect with the alias “Eden” remained at large.

Despite Carpenter’s background as an advocate for the protection of the Verde Island Passage and a key figure in securing the Philippines’ 2016 arbitral award, Co previously said the attack was aimed at robbing the American marine biologist’s home.

During the Friday interview, Co noted that Carpenter’s live-in partner has undergone a rape kit test, including a DNA sampling, for further analysis by forensic experts in Camp Crame to verify whether she had been sexually assaulted by one of the suspects. /das

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