Mervin Guarte wins gold in Obstacle Course Race men’s individual 5km x 20 event of 30th SEA Games at Filinvest, Alabang. INQUIRER photo / Richard A. Reyes
MANILA, Philippines — A person of interest (POI) in the killing of Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte has fled their residence in Barangay Camilmil, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, the chief of Calapan City Police said on Wednesday.
According to Calapan City Police Chief Lt. Col. Roden Fulache, Guarte and the POI, whom he did not identify, knew each other as they grew up in the same area.
READ: Mervin Guarte, SEA Games gold medalist, killed in stabbing
Local police have also conducted their investigation and found that the suspect was not among the individuals Guarte had been drinking with before the crime happened.
“Sa ngayon, may person of interest na binabantayan po. Based sa investigation namin, wala doon sa nakainuman niya [Guarte] ang suspect natin,” Fulache said in a Teleradyo interview. “Pero may POI na po tayo sa incident,” he added.
(At present, we have a person of interest under watch. Based on our investigation, the suspect was not among those Guarte had been drinking with. But we already have a POI on the incident.)
Fulache added the POI was also .
READ: PH sports mourns death of SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte
“Wala na po siya doon sa kanyang tinitirahan na malapit lang sa pinangyarihan ng krimen,” he said.
“Pinuntahan na rin po namin ‘yung ibang lugar na maaari niyang puntahan at wala na rin po siya doon sa mga lugar na ‘yon na pinuntahan po namin,” the Calapan police chief added.
(The POI is no longer at their residence, which is near the crime scene. We also visited other places where the POI might have gone, but the POI was not there either.)
READ: SEA Games 2023: Mervin Guarte relishes success in obstacle course racing
The Calapan police chief expressed hope that the case could be resolved within a week, saying the police are intensifying their manhunt operation.
“Patuloy po ‘yung pagtutok po namin. Diretso naman po ‘yung ating manhunt operation para sa whereabouts noong ating binanggit na POI,” he said.
“Kinukumpleto lang po namin ‘yung mga ibang ebidensya at tuloy-tuloy po tayo sa pagkalap ng impormasyon sa mga witness po natin na nakuhanan po natin ng information,” he added.
(We are closely monitoring the case. Our manhunt operation for the POI is ongoing. We are completing the evidence and continuously gathering information from witnesses.)
The Calapan City police previously reported that Guarte was stabbed in his sleep early Tuesday morning while staying at a friend’s house in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
The Philippine sports community mourned Guarte’s death, remembering him as “a long-time member of the national team and a multi-medalist from the Southeast Asian Games.”
Two-time Olympian and pole vault star EJ Obiena also paid tribute to Guarte, who won two gold medals in obstacle course racing at the SEA Games.