Mervin Guarte

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Several national athletes and sports governing bodies mourned the loss of Southeast Asian Games medalist Mervin Guarte, who was killed on Tuesday.</p><p>Guarte, who won multiple medals for the country in the SEA Games with the Philippine obstacle course racing and athletics teams, met his demise in a stabbing incident in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>Guarte’s fellow athletes mourned his passing through several messages, one of which came from his former teammate EJ Obiena.</p><p>“I just learned the devastating news of the shocking death of my friend and National teammate,” said Obiena of Guarte, who won golds for the Philippines in the 2023 SEA Games’ obstacle racing - men’s team relay, obstacle racing - men’s 5km in 2019, and silvers in athletics in 2011, 1500m and 800m.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DEg5bPVoHCi/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A9325518.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="816" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>“May his soul rest in peace, and I am sending my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. What a tragedy. Only 33 years old. This is another poignant reminder to us all, that we must embrace every day as a gift; as tomorrow is never guaranteed.”</p><p>“Blessed to have shared the track with you. Rest well my friend,” the two-time Olympian added.</p><p>Also expressing their goodbyes for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Airman First Class were the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Obstacle Sports Federation.</p><p>“Rest in peace! Thank you for your service to the country, Mervin!” the PSC wrote.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpsc.gov.ph%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0fhecK5qBhoSEuaKCDimKuzU5LUuxZ1X1o1uNk2VgWsLvcToQxb97QcjEKcmhd9Bbl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="654" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>“Thank you for your service, Mervin! You will be greatly missed!” said the POSF.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPinasObstacles%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0y8iWKPAgYwNXmXWxP6MtNLRbYsL7caMgx6M3RK6JE224ZvXQcU155TneFbWbRsrSl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="447" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Another Olympian in Mary Joy Tabal also shared her message for Guarte.</p><p>“Met Mervin Guarte during my early years in my running career, and he became a friend with an honest heart,” said Tabal, also a SEA Games gold medalist in marathon.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmaryjoytabal07%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0kHuL9xEdEQWqMMR2DjuAbH2ufh1a3NFpq2P1iSZYEVdejnLv2JAc7LfZqgGjz5yil&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="806" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>“He was full of potential, a hardworking athlete who transitioned from a champion middle-distance runner to a champion OCR athlete. Thank you for serving the country and bringing home medals. You will always be remembered.”</p><p>Guarte’s former teammate Elias Tabac was also among those who expressed his grief for his passing.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freypj.milo%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02KC8bLQMnUDD6NktTeqDSryGU8ujtYFSt1hjpy8Eiiz9XdjK38axShRJjcNurvW4Fl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="601" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Several National athletes and sports governing bodies mourned the loss of Southeast Asian Games medalist Mervin Guarte who was killed on Tuesday.</p>

Several National athletes and sports governing bodies mourned the loss of Southeast Asian Games medalist Mervin Guarte who was killed on Tuesday.

PH sports community mourns loss of SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte | ABS-CBN

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PH sports community mourns loss of SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte

PH sports community mourns loss of SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 07, 2025 03:57 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 07, 2025 04:05 PM PHT

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Mervin Guarte

Track and Field

Athletics

SEA Games

EJ Obiena

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