CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The disappearance of a 31-year-old hiker on Mt. Kalatungan has raised fresh concerns over safety protocols in organized mountain climbs, as search teams continue to scour Bukidnon’s rugged highlands with no confirmed breakthrough yet.
Alkharj Gomez Zamayla, a resident of Valencia City, Bukidnon, went missing after joining the “Freedom Climb – Mt. Kilakiron Traverse to Mt. Kalatungan,” an organized expedition that reportedly gathered around 60 participants.
He was last seen on June 12 while traversing the mountain range between Barangay Portulin and Barangay Mendis in Pangantucan town.
According to the Bukidnon Provincial Police Office, Zamayla was last spotted between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. near a river a few minutes before reaching Camp 1.
Police, volunteer mountaineers, local guides, and residents have since mounted a coordinated search operation across the steep and forested terrain of Mt. Kalatungan, but Zamayla remains missing.
Lt. Eder Oliveros, deputy chief of the Pangantucan Municipal Police Station, said initial inquiries suggest that Zamayla’s name was allegedly not included in the official list of climbers submitted for required tourism permits for the organized trek.
Authorities are coordinating with event organizers as part of their ongoing investigation.
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The development has drawn attention from outdoor groups and local officials, who emphasize the importance of proper registration, head counts, and coordination during large-scale climbs in difficult terrain where separation can quickly turn dangerous.
Zamayla’s fiancée, Bless Joy Porras, said he was not a professional mountaineer and only occasionally joined hiking activities.
The Mt. Kalatungan climb was reportedly his first attempt to summit one of the country’s highest peaks.
Family members said their hope is sustained by reports from fellow hikers who allegedly encountered Zamayla along the trail and said he asked for water shortly before he went missing.
Authorities have appealed to hikers, residents, and anyone who may have seen Zamayla on or after June 12 to immediately report any information that could help locate him.
As the search continues, the case underscores the risks of high-altitude trekking and the critical role of preparation and compliance with safety protocols in preventing tragedies in the mountains.
