BAMBAN, Tarlac — Following a year-long manhunt, law enforcement authorities have captured the prime suspect in the 2025 killing of Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and Philippine Air Force Airman First Class Mervin Guarte.
The 35-year-old suspect, identified as Oriental Mindoro’s No. 4 most wanted person at the provincial level, was apprehended on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at around 2:40 PM in Barangay Banaba, Bamban, Tarlac.
While his name was withheld in police reports, authorities noted he was a resident of Barangay Camilmil in Calapan City, the same location where Guarte was fatally stabbed during a dawn attack on January 7, 2025.
The arrest was executed by virtue of a murder warrant issued on March 28, 2025, by Judge Charity Grace Alcantara-Rico of the Calapan Regional Trial Court Branch 40, with no bail recommended for the suspect’s temporary release.
The fugitive also carried a P300,000 bounty through the government’s wanted persons program.
After being informed of his constitutional rights, the suspect was placed in the custody of the Regional Intelligence Division 4B (RID 4B) for documentation and transport to the Calapan City Police Station for proper legal proceedings.
The successful apprehension was achieved through inter-agency coordination involving MIMAROPA police’s RID 4B with vital support from the Bamban Municipal Police Station; Tarlac Police Provincial Office; Regional Intelligence Unit 4B; Philippine Air Force 300th Intelligence Squadron Wing; Angeles City Police Office-Criminal Investigation Unit; Calapan City Police Station; Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Office-Provincial Intelligence Unit; Regional Mobile Force Battalion 4B; National Intelligence Coordinating Agency MIMAROPA; and Naval Intelligence and Security Unit 34.
Guarte was widely celebrated as both an active-duty airman and a decorated national athlete who clinched a track and field gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games, alongside another gold medal with an obstacle course race team in 2023.
