MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.Net/16 June 2026) — A total of 136 rescue volunteers have fanned out across the rugged slopes and forested terrain of Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park as authorities intensify efforts to locate a missing climber, mobilizing a search-and-rescue operation involving government agencies, local officials, Indigenous leaders, and mountaineering groups from Talakag, Pangantucan, and Valencia City.
Authorities deployed the search teams across Mt. Kalatungan following a coordination meeting among government agencies, local officials, and volunteer groups. The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Bukidnon and the Protected Area Superintendent Office (PASu) of Mt. Kalatungan approved the deployment, with support from the local governments of Talakag, Pangantucan, and Valencia City.
The operation mobilized 72 Mt. Kalatungan volunteers across seven barangays in Talakag, 50 volunteers from Pangantucan and Barangay Portulin, and 14 volunteers from Valencia City. Authorities also established an Incident Management Team (IMT) led by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Bukidnon, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Pangantucan, Barangay Portulin, and PASu Mt. Kalatungan to ensure the smooth and efficient management of the operation.
Police identified the missing climber as Alkharj Gomez Zamayla, 31, of Valencia City. According to a report submitted by Pangantucan Municipal Police Station (MPS) Officer-in-Charge PCPT Christopher P. Tuzara II, Blessy Joy M. Porras, a City Health Worker and resident of Purok 3, Barangay Pinatilan, Valencia City, reported the incident to authorities on June 15.
Shola Zamayla-Biasca, sister of the missing climber, has posted a missing person notice on her Facebook account as of June 14 evening.
Police reports showed that Zamayla joined a trail-hiking activity at Mt. Kalatungan, traversing the mountain range from Barangay Portulin to Barangay Mendis in Pangantucan. Porras told police that on June 13, Zamayla’s cousin and fellow hiker informed her that he had disappeared along the trail. The cousin said he last saw Zamayla between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on June 12 near a river a few minutes from Camp 1.
After receiving the report, Pangantucan MPS personnel proceeded to Barangay Portulin to verify the information. Barangay officials immediately convened a coordination meeting attended by representatives from the Pangantucan MDRRMO, PENRO, volunteer rescuers from Barangays Portulin and Mendis, and Indigenous Peoples representatives to finalize deployment plans for the search-and-rescue operation.
Police investigators learned from the head tour guide of the June 11 hiking group that Zamayla had allegedly not secured the required trekking permit from the Tourism Office. The guide also reported that members of the group noticed Zamayla behaving unusually at Camp 1. According to the guide, Zamayla spoke about financial problems and walked barefoot during part of the trek.
When the group realized Zamayla was missing, members immediately searched the surrounding area but failed to find him. On June 13, they returned to Barangay Portulin and formally reported the incident to local authorities. Barangay officials then dispatched a second search team composed of tour guides and led by a local Datu. The effort has since expanded into the current multi-agency search-and-rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Talakag Mayor Renz Sulatan Jr. directed the MDRRMO-Talakag to coordinate with the PDRRMO Bukidnon, PENRO Bukidnon, PASu Mt. Kalatungan, MDRRMO Pangantucan, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) of Valencia, the 1004th Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Barangay Portulin officials, and the family of the missing climber to plan and organize the operation, according to a post on the Talakag MDRRMO FB account.
Members of multi-agency body meet in Portulin, Pangantucan, Bukidnon to plan the search and rescue operations/Courtesy of Talakag MDRRMO
Bukidnon Provincial Police Office Director PCOL Oliver Sotto Navales, in a report to Police Regional Office-10, urged the public to relay any information that could help locate the missing climber.
LGU Pangantucan also appealed to the public to refrain from sharing unverified information, rumors, and fake news related to the ongoing search. In a public advisory, search-and-rescue coordinators urged residents and social media users to rely only on official updates from authorized agencies and concerned authorities.
The advisory warned that inaccurate information could cause unnecessary distress to Zamayla’s family, friends, rescuers, and the wider community while potentially hampering search efforts. Authorities called for public cooperation, understanding, and support as the operation continues.
They likewise urged the public to use social media responsibly by sharing only verified information and joined calls for prayers for Zamayla’s safety and the success of the search-and-rescue mission.
Anyone with information regarding Zamayla’s whereabouts may contact the Pangantucan Municipal Police Station through its hotline at 0998-598-6873. (With reports from Sean Sulugan/BukidnonNews.Net)
