Southeast Asian Games multi-medalist Mervin Guarte passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 7, after succumbing from stab wounds from an unidentified assailant in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

He was 33.

In a police report, Guarte was said to be sleeping in the living room of the house of a barangay councilor when the assailant entered the house and stabbed him on the chest at around 4:30 a.m.

The suspect immediately fled the scene while Guarte was able to seek help from the neighbors. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but later on succumbed to his injuries.

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.

Fellow national team members and sports officials expressed their condolences to the family of Guarte.

"Mourning for one of our medalist athletes from Patafa (Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association) to obstacle course racing for his untimely demise," said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino.

“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 world-class pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

“RIP boss, mego...nakakabigla, malungkot kami mga national athletes na kasamahan mo sa nangyari,” said two-time Olympic boxing medalist Nesthy Petecio, adding that Guarte always sends her congratulatory messages on her victories.

“Rest in Peace Meg,” added Tokyo Olympics bronze winner Eumir Marcial.

“Condolence sa family ni Idol. Grabe naman sana makamtan mo ang hustisya Idol,” wrote Paralympian swimmer Ernie Gawilan.