PANGANTUCAN, Bukidnon — An intensive search and rescue operation is underway in the rugged forests of Mt. Kalatungan after a 31-year-old hiker was reported missing during a trekking activity in one of Mindanao’s highest mountain ranges.
Authorities and volunteer rescuers continue to scour the vast wilderness of Mt. Kalatungan in an urgent effort to locate Alkharj Gomez Zamayla, who has been missing since the morning of June 12, 2026.
According to reports, Zamayla joined a hiking expedition that traversed from Barangay Portulin to Barangay Mendis in Pangantucan, Bukidnon. He was last seen between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. near a river area just a few minutes away from Camp 1 along the mountain trail.
As days pass without any confirmed sighting, concern for his safety continues to grow among family members, fellow hikers, rescuers, and local authorities.
Ground search operations are currently being conducted by personnel from the Pangantucan Rescue Team, volunteer mountain guides, and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO). Search teams have been combing identified trails, river systems, forested areas, and possible routes that the missing hiker may have taken.
To ensure the safety and coordination of rescue efforts, security personnel from the Pangantucan Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the 1004th Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10 (RMFB10) have been deployed to maintain order and provide perimeter security within the search area.
Authorities said they remain in close coordination with the local government unit and various partner agencies as operations continue around the clock.
The case has drawn widespread attention after Zamayla’s sister, Shola Zamayla-Biasca, issued an emotional public appeal on social media seeking immediate assistance from the hiking community and the public.
“My brother, Alkharj Zamayla, is missing on Mt. Kalatungan, Bukidnon. We need immediate assistance from local search and rescue, hikers, guides, and anyone who could share relevant information,” she wrote.
According to her post, Zamayla stands approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and was reportedly seen on the mountain on June 12. One of the last known accounts came from two hikers who allegedly encountered him and provided him with water shortly before he disappeared.
The family revealed that they were only informed of his disappearance on June 14, nearly two days after he was last seen, after learning about the situation through social media posts circulating online.
The delay in notification has heightened fears as searchers race against time and challenging mountain conditions to locate him.
Mt. Kalatungan, known for its dense forests, steep terrain, and unpredictable weather conditions, poses significant challenges for search and rescue teams. The mountain is part of the Kalatungan Mountain Range Natural Park, one of the country’s key biodiversity areas and among the most difficult trekking destinations in Mindanao.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have been on the trail, encountered Zamayla, or possesses any information that could aid rescuers to immediately contact the Pangantucan Municipal Police Station at 0998-598-6873.
As the search enters another critical day, family members remain hopeful that Alkharj Zamayla will be found alive and safely reunited with his loved ones.
Every piece of information could make a difference.
Anyone with relevant information is strongly encouraged to come forward immediately.