SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte killed from stabbing in Oriental Mindoro

Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte was killed from stabbing in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro early Tuesday morning.

According to Glen Juego’s Tuesday report on Super Radyo dzBB, Guarte was stabbed in his sleep around 4:30 a.m. by a man who entered the house.

The Oriental Mindoro Provincial Police Office reported that the 32-year-old athlete was then sleeping in the house of a barangay kagawad.

The police added that Guarte was still able to call for help and was brought to the hospital, but eventually passed.

Guarte was a member of the Philippine Air Force and was assigned to Lipa, Batangas.

The Philippine Sports Commission has expressed its condolences.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras,” Guarte was stabbed following a drinking session in the house of his friend, who is a barangay kagawad.

The investigator was able to talk to Guarte in the hospital before his passing and found that the athlete did not recognize the suspect as he was asleep when he was stabbed.

“Nakatayo pa po siya eh. Nakahingi pa siya ng tulong doon sa mga kasama niya sa bahay, ‘yung pamangkin ni konsehal na babae. Hinabol pa nga ‘yung suspect eh. Hindi lang nila inabot,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Roden Fulache, chief of Calapan Police.

“Yung kutsilyo ay naputol [at] nalaglag po yung mismong blade niya sa crime scene. Na-recover po ng ating imbestogador. ‘Yung sa initial po na nakita doon sa ospital noong pinuntahan ng imbestigador, isa lang ‘yung nakita nila na sa chest,” he added.

(After he was stabbed, Guarte was able to stand and called for help, to which the counselor’s niece responded. His companions chased the suspect but failed to capture him. The investigator recovered the blade of the knife that was used in the crime. Initial reports showed that the athlete was stabbed in his chest.)

The motive for the crime and possible persons of interest (POI) are still being investigated.

“Tinitingnan po naming anggulo doon ‘yung baka nagkaroon sila ng hindi pagkakaunawaan during the drinking session. So ‘yung POI nga po na tinitingna natin, yung kainuman niya na tagaroon din doon sa area,” Fulache said.

(We are looking at the possibility that Guarte had an argument with his drinking buddies. So we’re verifying if they could be POIs.)

The Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation condemned the incident and called for justice.

Guarte won gold during the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in 2023, helping the four-man team capture the title in the men's team relay of the obstacle course racing.

He also copped a gold medal in 2019 SEA Games after reigning supreme in the men's 5km of OCR. Guarte is also a holder of two silver medals in the 2011 edition, placing second in both the 800m and 1500m track events.

Guarte is also part of the national record holder of 4x800m relay team, which tallied 7:42.20 during the Vietnam Open in July 2014. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/with a report from Bea Micaller/JMB/VBL, GMA Integrated News