PANGANTUCAN, Bukidnon — A search force of 127 volunteers, soldiers, police officers, local guides, K9 units, and drone operators has yet to locate 31-year-old hiker Alkharj Gomez Zamayla, who went missing while climbing Mt. Kalatungan, the country's fifth-highest mountain.

Barangay Kagawad Emelia Guina said seven search teams have combed portions of the 35,812-hectare Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park, which spans the towns of Pangantucan, Talakag, and Maramag, but have found no sign of Zamayla. Related story: No sign of missing Bukidnon hiker on day 5

A task force composed of volunteers and rescue personnel has established its operations center at the Barangay Portulin Hall in Pangantucan.

Zamayla, an industrial safety officer for a construction company in Bukidnon, went missing on June 12 after becoming separated from a group of fellow hikers.

Guina, who also serves as the task force spokesperson, said the only possible clue recovered after five days of searching was a piece of toilet tissue found along one of the mountain trails.

“That is not conclusive evidence that it was his. After five days, we still believe he is alive, though lost somewhere in the vastness of the mountain,” Guina said.

She noted that Mt. Kalatungan has numerous natural water sources that could help sustain a stranded hiker.

Guina said Zamayla was last seen wearing a green jacket and carrying a backpack with an umbrella tucked inside.

According to Zamayla’s younger sister, Alyzzah, her brother is an experienced mountaineer who has previously climbed the 2,320-meter Mt. Lumot in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, and the 2,941-meter Mt. Dulang-Dulang in Lantapan, Bukidnon, the country's second-highest peak.

Alyzzah and several relatives have been staying at a “Tulugan” (tribal house) provided by Guina and members of the Manobo-Talaandig community while awaiting updates on the search.

“My brother knows the mountains. He has climbed mountains before,” Alyzzah said.

Search Status:

  • Days Missing: 6 days.
  • Search Area: 35,812-hectare Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park.
  • Resources: Drones, K9 units, 7 specialized search teams.
  • Operations Center: Barangay Portulin Hall, Pangantucan.

Guina said the unique environment of Mt. Kalatungan can disorient even seasoned climbers. The mountain's damp, moss-covered forests, dense ferns, and orchids create what she described as a “fairy-tale-like” landscape that can make navigation difficult. You May Also like: Missing hiker case raises safety questions on organized climbs

“We believe he got lost after becoming separated from the group,” she said.