The life and career of a star athlete in the Philippines were cut short when he was brutally murdered by an unidentified assailant with a knife.

Filipino track star Mervin Guarte, a multiple medal winner in the Southeast Asian Games and airman in the Philippine Air Force, was killed on Tuesday at the age of 32, according to the Daily Guardian.

Condolences and tributes have poured in from fellow competitors and officials while authorities continue to investigate the heinous crime and search for Guarte's killer.

Star athlete murdered

According to Rappler, Guarte was sleeping at the home of a friend, a local government official of Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro, when an unidentified intruder entered the residence and stabbed him in the chest before fleeing the scene.

Guarte managed to call for help and was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital but ultimately succumbed to the stab wounds he'd suffered and was eventually pronounced dead.

The victim was an Airman First Class in the Philippine Air Force who had been stationed at San Fernando Airbase in Lipa City in Batangas, but was better known as a popular and successful athlete who'd won multiple medals on behalf of his country.

Per the Guardian, Guarte had twice won silver at the SEA Games in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2011 in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter track events, but later transitioned to compete in obstacle course races and won gold at the Manila games in 2019 in the 5-kilometer race and at the Cambodia games in 2023 in the men's relay race.

A "person of interest" identified in slaying

According to ABS-CBN News, the police have identified a "person of interest" in the murder of Guarte but have not yet publicly released that individual's name and instead described them as a childhood friend who harbored a longstanding grudge.

The suspect, who is said to be a tricycle driver, was spotted by witnesses and surveillance cameras approaching the home where Guarte was killed and is believed to have waited until the victim went to sleep following a "drinking session" before stabbing him in the chest and immediately fleeing the area.

The Philippine Star reported that Calapan Police Chief Lt. Col. Roden Fulache revealed that the knife believed to have been used in the murder was recovered from the crime scene and that investigators were searching the homes of known relatives of the suspect to try and determine his location so he could be taken into custody.

"It appears the person of interest held a grudge against the victim," Fulache explained. "The suspect waited until after the victim finished the drinking session with his friends to carry out the attack."

Justice will be served, local governor vows

According to Rappler, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito "Bonz" Dolor said in a statement, "The provincial government condemns what happened to Mervin Guarte. We will not be fazed as we call for justice, and we continue to hope to hold those responsible for this crime."

Meanwhile, amid an outpouring of condolences and tributes from fellow athletes and competitors, Philippine Obstacle Sports Federation chief attorney Al Agra said, "Today, Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation mourns the passing of one of our National Athletes, Mervin Guarte. He was (an original) having been part of our team since 2018. He gave the country two SEAG gold medals in 2019 and 2023. With Mervin, we won as one. He is family."

"Aside from loving obstacle sports and running, he loved his family and he loved his community. It was with and through him that we helped in the renovation of the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro," he added. "We will miss you, Mervin. Thank you for your service. POSF is eternally grateful. May you Rest In Peace."