The search and rescue operation for 31-year-old hiker Alkharj Gomez Zamayla, who has been missing on Mt. Kalatungan in Bukidnon since June 12, has been intensified with the deployment of elite forces and advanced technology. According to police, 15 Special Forces combat trackers, two K9 tracker dogs, and drones equipped with thermal imaging from the DENR, Del Monte Philippines, and a private company have joined the search efforts.
Reports indicate that Zamayla was last seen on Mt. Kalatungan on June 12, 2026, near a river just a few minutes from Camp 1. A resident of Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, who works in Valencia City, Zamayla reportedly joined the “Freedom Climb – Mt. Kilakiron Traverse to Mt. Kalatungan,” which attracted around 60 participants. Initial findings revealed that his name was allegedly not included in the official list of climbers submitted for the tourism permits required for organized mountain expeditions. His disappearance was reported to authorities on June 14, prompting an extensive search-and-rescue operation.
A volunteer team from Skunk Works of Team CDO 4×4 Club has also deployed drone technology to assist in the search for the missing hiker. However, their aerial operations have been hampered by unfavorable weather conditions in the Mt. Kalatungan area.
Meanwhile, Bukidnon mountaineer and software developer Cliff Amadeus F. Evangelio has developed a GIS-based map that compiles the locations and photos gathered by search-and-rescue teams. The latest version, updated as of June 19, is helping responders narrow down the search area and identify key coordinates in the ongoing effort to locate missing hiker Alkharj Gomez Zamayla.
According to authorities, the search-and-rescue operation for Alkharj Gomez Zamayla is scheduled to run for 10 days. If he remains missing after that period, officials may shift the mission from a search-and-rescue operation to a search-and-retrieval effort.
with info from Bomb Radyo CDO, Brigada News, iFM CDO
