TWO-SPORT Southeast Asian Games medalist Mervin Guarte was killed on Tuesday in Calapan City, according to multiple reports.
Calapan City police chief Roden Fulache told ABS-CBN News that Guarte was stabbed while asleep inside the house of Barangay Camilmil councilor Dante Abel around 4:30 a.m..
Guarte was brought to the Sta. Maria Village Hospital and Mindoro Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.
READ Guarte a SEAG champ finally after switch to obstacle course racing
The suspect has yet to be identified by the police at posting time.
Fulache also told ABS-CBN that they have recovered the knife that was used in the killing, and are trying to identify the persons that were drinking with him hours prior to the incident as part of the investigation of the crime.
Guarte was only 33.
Tributes poured in for Guarte, also a member of the Philippine Air Force who won medals in the SEA Games in two different sports – athletics and obstacle course racing (OCR).
It was in OCR where Guarte flourished, winning a gold in the men’s 5km category in the 2019 SEA Games held in the Philippines. He also bagged a gold in the men’s team event in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.
A middle-distance runner, Guarte captured silver medals in the 800m in 2011, 2013, and 2015, and in the 1500m in 2011 and 2015. He garnered bronze in the 1500m in 2017 before shifting to OCR.
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena honored Guarte on his Facebook page, calling him a “friend” and “kuya.”
“Blessed to have shared the track with you. Rest well, my friend,” wrote Obiena.
The Philippine Obstacle Sports Federation posted a simple tribute to Guarte on its Facebook page.
“Thank you for your service, Mervin,” said the federation.
Former national team marathoner Mary Joy Tabal described Guarte as a “friend with an honest heart.”
“He was full of potential, a hardworking athlete who transitioned from a champion middle-distance runner to a champion OCR athlete,” wrote Tabal, a 2017 SEA Games gold medalist.
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