By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippines lost a potential medal producer for various international meets this year when well-loved obstacle star Mervin Guarte was stabbed dead on Tuesday, Jan. 7, in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.
He was 33.
Guarte was reportedly attacked treacherously by an unidentified assailant while sleeping in the house of a barangay official at around 4:30 a.m. He sustained deep wounds from the attack.
While the suspect was able to flee, Guarte managed to summon enough strength to seek help from the neighbors. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to knife wound.
Guarte’s tragic death shocked fellow national team members, including Olympians Eumir Marcial, EJ Obiena and Nesthy Petecio, Paralympian Ernie Gawilan, former SEAG champion Mary Joy Tabal and fellow obstacle champion Mark Julius Rodelas.
“RIP boss, mego…nakakabigla, malungkot kami mga national athletes na kasamahan mo sa nangyari,” said Petecio, adding that Guarte always sends her congratulatory messages each time she wins.
“Rest in Peace Meg,” added Marcial.
“Condolence sa family ni Idol. Grabe naman sana makamtan mo ang hustisya Idol,” wrote Gawilan.
Even Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino was saddened by Guarte’s untimely passing, saying: “Mourning for one of our medalist athletes from Patafa (Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association) to obstacle course racing for his untimely demise.”
“The Philippine sports community mourns the untimely death of Mervin Guarte, a long-time member of the national team and a multi-medalist from the Southeast Asian Games. Rest in peace! Thank you for your service to the country,” the Philippine Sports Commission posted on its social media page.
“I just learned the devastating news of the shocking death of my friend and national teammate, Kuya Mervin Guarte. May his soul rest in peace, and I am sending my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones,” said Obiena.
SWIFT JUSTICE SOUGHT
The province was also mourning the death of one of their well-decorated sons, with Governor Humerlito Dolor condemning the heinous crime. He vowed swift justice.
“Patuloy ang pakikipag-ugnayan natin sa Philippine National Police (PNP) para mahanap ang tao sa likod ng pagkakapaslang kay Mervin Guarte. Binigyan natin ng direktiba ang PPO-OrMin sa pangunguna ni PCOL Edison Revita upang agarang makamit ang hustisya,” Dolor said in a Facebook post.
Guarte started representing the country as a middle-distance runner in athletics where he won silver medals in the men’s 800- and 1500 meters of the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
He is also a national record holder in the 4x800m along with teammates Wenley Maulas, Paul Billones and Christopher Ulboc.
A few years later, he shifted his focus to the obstacle course where he won the gold medal in the 2019 SEA Games in Manila in the men’s 5km race.
He was also a gold medalist in the men’s team relay at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia and a 2024 Spartan Asia Pacific Champion in the men’s beast 21km event.
A member of the Philippine Air Force with the rank of Airman First Class, Guarte was assigned to Fernando Airbase, Lipa City, Batangas at the time of his death.
The victim was a resident of Barangay Malinao, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. (with a report from Tristan Lozano)
