BONG GO CALLS FOR JUSTICE IN THE KILLING OF SEA GAMES GOLD MEDALIST MERVIN GUARTE

In a phone-patch interview with DZRH’s “Balansyado” program on Tuesday, January 7, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed deep sorrow and condemnation over the tragic death of SEA Games gold medalist Mervin Guarte, who was fatally stabbed in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Go emphasized his commitment to help in ensuring justice for Guarte and continuing his advocacy for the welfare and development of Filipino athletes.

“Unang-una, nakikiramay po tayo sa pamilya ni Mervin Guarte. Bilang chairman ng Committee on Sports, kinokondena natin itong karumaldumal na pananaksak kay Mervin na naging sanhi ng kanyang kamatayan. Nalulungkot po ako,” Senator Go began.

He recounted Guarte’s contributions to Philippine sports, noting his gold medal wins in the 2023 and 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. “Alam n’yo ang dami pong naidalang karangalan ni Mervin sa ating bansa… marami pa siyang dinalang karangalan sa ating bayan. Ako po’y nalulungkot.”

Senator Go called on law enforcement to act swiftly in resolving the case: “Pangatlo, nananawagan po ako sa law enforcement agencies natin, sa kapulisan sa lahat po, sana po’y mabigyan ng hustisya po itong krimen na ito at mapanagot po kung sinong may kasalanan.”

The senator reiterated his office’s readiness to support not just Guarte’s family but also other Filipino athletes who may require assistance. “Ako naman, bukas ang opisina ko po na tumulong sa pamilya ni Mervin at sana’y mabigyan kaagad ng hustisya,” he assured.

As the conversation shifted to the broader context of sports development, Senator Go highlighted his long-standing support for Filipino athletes, including Olympians like Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo. He stressed the importance of adequate funding, equipment, and moral support for athletes, not only during tournaments but throughout their preparations.

“Dapat ‘yung mga equipment nila maayos, may pagkain, suportado sila ng gobyerno at ng pribadong sektor… ang karangalan na maibibigay nila sa atin ay hindi po nabibili,” he explained.

Senator Go also discussed the creation of the National Academy of Sports (NAS) by authoring and co-sponsoring Republic Act No. 11470. Located in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, NAS combines secondary education with a sports-focused curriculum, offering a dual path for student-athletes to excel in their sports and academic endeavors.

“Mayroon na tayong eskwelahan. Sayang naman po ‘yung ipinatayo natin noong 2019 noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Duterte, ‘yung mga pasilidad doon na hindi magagamit. So ginawa nating eskwelahan… para sa student athletes. Walang masasakripisyo,” he added.

Further emphasizing the importance of grassroots sports programs, Senator Go noted their role in nurturing future athletes and steering the youth away from illegal drugs. “Kaya nga po marami tayong isinusulong, for example mga tournament. Isang paraan po ito na ilayo natin ang mga kabataan sa iligal na droga. Get into sports, stay away from drugs to keep us healthy and fit,” Senator Go said.

This advocacy ties directly to his health reforms crusade, where Senator Go highlighted the positive impact of sports on public health. “Ako po kasi ang chairman ng Committee on Health. ‘Pag tayo po’y physically fit, nag-e-exercise tayo, involve tayo sa sports, eh physically fit tayo, healthy tayo, mas hahaba ang ating buhay. So mababawasan ‘yung problema natin sa health,” he emphasized.

Go has also continuously pushed for an increased budget for sports programs to significantly improve Filipino athletes’ preparation, training, and competitive performance on the international stage while launching effective programs to cultivate the talents of young and aspiring sports enthusiasts at the grassroots level.

“Kung may mga potential athletes kayo sa inyong probinsya na kailangan ng suporta, tulungan po natin. Kung may mga paliga kayo na kailangan ng suporta, tulungan po natin,” the senator concluded.

As Chairperson of the Senate Youth Committee, Go continues to urge government to prioritize sports engagement among citizens, not only for elite athletes but also for aspiring youth athletes, especially at the grassroots.

“As I always remind our youth, get into sports, stay away from illegal drugs to keep us healthy and fit!” he said earlier.