The Philippine Star reports that the partner and sibling of American marine biologist Kent Edward Carpenter have been identified as persons of interest in his murder last Sunday at his home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.

Police noted inconsistencies in the partner's account of being sexually assaulted by robbers, as medical exams showed no evidence of sexual violence.The suspect siblings were linked due to frequent visits to the victim’s home.Authorities suspect robbery motives after recovering P75,000 and a laptop from the scene.While initial findings point to a robbery, social media speculates about Carpenter's role in the South China Sea arbitration case.Environmental group Protect VIP condemned the murder, highlighting Carpenter's contributions to marine conservation.Police are reviewing CCTV footage and considering possible connections to the victim’s work.No forced entry was found at the crime scene, adding complexity to the investigation.