SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte. Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation

Noel Alamar

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><strong></strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736317120398173623131613720250107-mervin-guarte-POSF-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte. Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte. <em>Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation</em> </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> — The police on Wednesday said they have identified a &quot;person of interest&quot; in the killing of SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte.</p><p>A person of interest is someone who has been included in a police investigation but who has not been named a suspect, arrested or charged.</p><p>Guarte was stabbed to death in his sleep early Tuesday at his friend&#x27;s house in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, following a drinking session, according to police.</p><p>The person of interest, identified by a witness, is a tricycle driver known to Guarte, Police Lt. Col. Roden Fulache, Calapan City police chief, said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/1/7/ph-sports-community-mourns-loss-of-sea-games-gold-medalist-mervin-guarte-1556">PH sports community mourns loss of SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte</a></div><p>Fulache said that the person of interest was not among those who were with Guarte during the drinking session.</p><p>Instead, he waited for the gathering to end, said Fulache.</p><p>CCTV footage showed the person of interest walking toward the house of Guarte&#x27;s friend, Barangay Kagawad Dante Abel.</p><p>Minutes later, he was seen hurriedly walking away from the crime scene.  </p><p>The police also said Guarte could have also seen the person of interest when he went to buy liquor at a store.  </p><div><strong>&#x27;PERSON OF INTEREST HARBORED ANGER VS GUARTE&#x27;</strong></div><p>&quot;Matagal na po atang galit doon sa victim. Hindi lang po namin ma-disclose pa &#x27;yung mismong ano niya, motive niya, pero mayroon siyang kinikimkim na galit doon sa victim itong tao na ito,&quot; Fulache said.</p><p>(It seems he had long been angry at the victim. We just can’t disclose the exact motive yet, but he had been holding a grudge against the victim.)  </p><p>Fulache added the person of interest and Guarte knew each other because the athlete grew up in the area and had stayed there since second year high school.</p><p>Authorities are now pursuing the person of interest and have checked relatives&#x27; homes for him.</p><p>Fulache assured Guarte&#x27;s family that investigators were fully committed to doing everything they could to make sure the perpetrator would be held accountable and brought to justice.</p><div><strong>MULTI-TIME MEDALIST</strong></div><p>Guarte was a member of the Philippine Air Force assigned to San Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas, and a resident of Barangay Malinao in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>Guarte won two silver medals at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in the men&#x27;s 800-meter and 1500-meter events in track and field. </p><p>He eventually shifted to obstacle racing, where he won gold in the men&#x27;s 5km event at the 2019 SEA Games. </p><p>He was also part of the team that secured a gold medal in the men&#x27;s team relay at the 2023 SEA Games.</p><p>Fulache assured Guarte&#x27;s family that investigators were fully committed to doing everything they could to make sure the perpetrator would be held accountable and brought to justice.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/7/sea-games-gold-medalist-patay-matapos-saksakin-habang-natutulog-pulisya-1337">SEA Games gold medalist patay matapos saksakin habang natutulog: pulisya</a></div><p>The remains of the slain athlete lie at his residence in Sitio Camia, Barangay Malinao, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. </p><p>His family has declined interview requests as they await developments from police investigators.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/1/8/ej-obiena-saddened-over-death-of-fellow-filipino-athlete-1019">EJ Obiena saddened over death of fellow Filipino athlete</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5oXxHiqCo4w?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>The police on Wednesday said it had identified a "person of interest" in the killing of SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte.</p>

The police on Wednesday said it had identified a "person of interest" in the killing of SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte.

'Person of interest' in Mervin Guarte slay harbored anger, police say | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

Regions

'Person of interest' in Mervin Guarte slay harbored anger, police say

'Person of interest' in Mervin Guarte slay harbored anger, police say

Noel Alamar,

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 08, 2025 02:32 PM PHT

|

Updated Jan 08, 2025 03:32 PM PHT

Read More:

ABSNews

ANC promo

Calapan City

Oriental Mindoro

SEA Games champion

Marvin Guarte

Calapan City Police

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Advertise with Us

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.