The academic and athletic community is mourning the sudden death of Marc Mateo Castillo, a 20-year-old student-athlete from Occidental Mindoro State College, who tragically passed away after participating in a boxing event in Camiguin over the weekend.
In a statement released on Monday, Occidental Mindoro State College confirmed their coordination with relevant agencies and the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) to facilitate the return of Castillo’s remains to his family. “College officials have personally reached out to Mr. Castillo’s bereaved family and are providing full support in all necessary arrangements for his dignified return home,” the college said.
Castillo, representing the Southern Tagalog Region, competed in his final match against an opponent from the National Capital Region on April 26. The match ended with the referee stopping the contest in the third round, after which Castillo received immediate medical attention at the venue.
The boxing match was part of the SCUAA National Games, which brought together over 4,700 athletes and coaches from state colleges and universities across the Philippines.
In a separate statement, the local government of Mambajao in Camiguin assured that a medical team was present at each match during the event. “Following timely initial medical interventions, Dr. (Boel) Espinas promptly referred the patient to Camiguin General Hospital for further comprehensive evaluation and treatment,” the Municipal Health Office said.
Medical examiners are currently investigating the cause of Castillo’s death.
