SEA Games gold medalist killed in Oriental Mindoro
AN Air Force serviceman who happened to be a former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist was found with stab wounds inside his friend’s house in Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro early yesterday morning and died while being rushed to a local hospital.
A report from the Police Regional Office 4-B said that local policemen are still tracking down the still unidentified man who attacked 33-year-old Airman First Class Mervin Guarte inside the residence of his friend at Sitio Pinagkaisahan in Bgy. Camilmil in Calapan City.
The victim assigned at the Philippine Air Force’s San Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas was knifed inside the house of kagawad Dante Abel around 4:30 a.m. yesterday after a drinking session with some friends.
The victim managed to seek help from nearby residents, who rushed him to the Sta. Maria Village Hospital for emergency aid before being transferred to the Mindoro Medical Center, where an attending physician declared him dead upon arrival.
PRO4-B director Brig. Gen. Roger L. Quesada said the Calapan City Police Station headed by Lt. Col. Roden Fulache is leading the hunt for the killer, who is believed to have an ax to grind against the victim.
The Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Office under Col. Edison Revita has also provided support to the ongoing investigation.
A blood-stained knife believed to have been used in the killing was recovered by investigators and will be subjected to a forensic investigation by the Philippine National Police Forensic Group to determine if it both had the DNA samples of the victim and the suspect.
Local residents who joined Guarte in the drinking session are being questioned by the police as part of their effort to identify the killer and establish his motive, said Quesada.
An initial investigation showed that the victim went to the place for a drinking bout which started on Monday night and lasted until 3 a.m. yesterday.
The entire country led by his fellow athletes are mourning the death of Guarte, who brought fame and glory to the Philippines with his major victories in previous SEA Games, a biennial multi-sports event featuring top athletes from 11 Southeast Asian countries.
The victim won two silver medals in the men’s 800-meter and 1500-meter track events during the 26th SEA Games held from November 11 to 22, 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
During the 30th edition of the SEA Games held in Manila from November 30 to December 11, 2019, he bagged a gold medal in the men’s 5-kilometer race.
He was also a part of the gold-winning Philippine men’s team relay team during the 32nd edition of the SEA Games held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from May 5 to 17, 2023.
The bemedaled athlete also ruled the Spartan 2024 APAC Championship men’s beast 21-km category held in Fiji in November last year.
