TWO-TIME Southeast Asian Games obstacle sport gold medalist and former national track standout Mervin Guarte died of a fatal stab wound early yesterday morning in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. He was 33.
Calapan City police chief Lt. Col. Roden Fulache said Guarte, an Air Force enlisted man, was sleeping on the couch in the house of barangay councilor Dante Albo Abel when he was stabbed in the left chest by a lone assailant, who was not immediately identified.
Guarte won gold medals in the 2019 Philippine and 2023 Cambodia SEA Games and silver medals in the men’s 800 and 1,500-meter races of the 2015 Singapore SEA Games.
A report from the Calapan City police station said the incident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. in Sitio Pinagkaisahan, Barangay Camilmil.
Fulache said Guarte went to the area to visit Abel and had a drinking session with others at the councilor’s residence that lasted at around 3 a.m.
Fulache said the assailant used a kitchen knife that was recovered at the crime scene.
He said despite his wound, Guarte managed to stand and sought the help of Abel’s niece.
Guarte was rushed to the Sta. Maria Village Hospital and later transferred to the Mindoro Medical Center where he died.
Fulache said police investigators were able to talk to Guarte before he died but Guarte was not able to identify his assailant.
He said an initial investigation showed Guarte was not involved in any squabble during the drinking session.
Fulache said all those who took part in the drinking session will be subjected to an investigation.
“We are going to interview all of them,” said Fulache.
“We are still in shock and very sad,” said Philippine Obstacle Sports Federation president Alberto Agra after being informed of the tragic news.
