Search for missing hiker in Bukidnon terminated

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The search for the missing hiker on Mt. Kalatungan has been terminated after search teams completely scoured the mountain, including areas within the towns of Valencia and Pangantucan, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) announced on Thursday.

Anecito Torayno, PDRRMO chief of the search operation, reported that teams composed of volunteers, soldiers, police officers, local guides, K9 units, and drone operators found no sign of 31-year-old hiker Alkharj Gomez Zamayla, who went missing while climbing Mt. Kalatungan, the country’s fifth-highest mountain.

“We believe that the missing hiker is already out of the area," he said.

He added that search teams had expanded their operations to the base of the mountain, covering parts of Pangantucan, Valencia, and Talakag. Torayno noted that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will now take over the investigation as a missing person case.

According to Torayno, the missing hiker is a former state trooper who worked for a private company and has basic survival training. Search teams utilized thermal-seeking drones and K9 dogs in their efforts to locate him.

The Northern Mindanao Police Regional Office earlier reported that the 31-year-old hiker had not secured a permit to climb Mount Kalatungan and had not coordinated with local authorities before he went missing on 13 June.

Police Major Joan Navarro, PNP spokesperson, said a search and rescue operation was initially launched for the hiker, who reportedly joined a trekking activity from Barangay Portulin (also cited as Barangay Portulan) to Barangay Mendis in Pangantucan, Bukidnon. However, the group denied that he was part of their hiking activity.

According to a police report, he was last seen on 12 June, between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, near a river just a few minutes away from Camp 1.