In a shocking incident, the Philippine National Police have pinpointed a ‘person of interest’ following the brutal murder of Mervin Guarte, a decorated athlete and Airman First Class, who was fatally stabbed in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. The attack occurred early Tuesday morning, leaving the community in mourning and the police in a fervent search for the perpetrator.
Guarte, who was sleeping on a couch at the residence of village Councilor Dante Albo Abel, was stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife. Despite immediate medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Prior to the attack, Guarte had been visiting his uncle and participating in a drinking session with others in the compound.
Calapan City Police Chief Lt. Col. Roden Fulache revealed in a radio interview that the person of interest was not part of the drinking group. The police are still piecing together the motive behind the killing, with Fulache noting that the victim and the person of interest hail from the same neighborhood.
Efforts to locate the person of interest have been unsuccessful so far, as he was not found at his residence near the crime scene or at other potential locations. The police are continuing their manhunt and are preparing to file criminal charges once sufficient evidence is gathered.
Initial investigations suggest that Guarte had no known enemies in the area. A bladed weapon, believed to be the murder weapon, was found at the scene. Guarte, unable to identify his attacker before his death, leaves behind a legacy of athletic achievement, having won multiple medals in the SEA Games for obstacle racing and athletics.
The sports community, including Olympic boxing medalists Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Felix Marcial, has expressed deep sorrow over Guarte’s death and is calling for justice to be served swiftly.