Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expressed sadness over the death of obstacle sports racing (OCR) champion Mervin Guarte as he sought for a speedy investigation of the crime.

Tolentino, also the Tagaytay City mayor, said Guarte is a big loss to Philippine sports, especially since he has been competing internationally for more than 10 years.

“He’s a big loss to Philippine sports, for obstacle sports racing and athletics in particular,” Tolentino said on Wednesday.

“I am hoping that the crime would be solved soon.”

Tolentino said he will be personally reaching out to both Calapan City Mayor Malou Flores-Morillo and Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Hyn Dolor on the fatal stabbing of Guarte, who a was part of the gold medal-winning men’s relay team of OCR in the Cambodia 2023 Southeast Asian Games.

Owner of silver medals in the 1,500 and 800 meters as a track athlete in the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, Guarte was stabbed while sleeping in the sala of a friend’s house in Calapan City at dawn Tuesday.

Tolentino expressed grief to the Philippine Obstacle Sports Federation, whose president Atty. Al Agra, was appointed as head of the arbitration committee of the POC also on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Guarte, an Airman First Class of the Philippine Air Force, according to Tolentino, is also a big loss to the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association where he started his career as a national athlete.