▁L TC ▁Mate o ▁V ▁B aw agan , ▁the ▁unit ' s ▁administrative , ▁oper ational ▁and ▁related ▁activities ▁were ▁acceler ated ▁to ▁its ▁highest ▁peak ▁which ▁earned ▁COL ▁B aw agan ▁the ▁honor ▁of ▁having ▁been ▁adj ud ged ▁as ▁“ The ▁Most ▁Out standing ▁Battalion ▁Commander ▁of ▁Calendar ▁Year ▁ 1 9 7 4 ”. ▁ <0x09> ▁On ▁ 8 ▁July ▁ 1 9 7 5 , ▁L TC ▁N olan ▁C ▁Lap ut ▁assumed ▁leadership ▁of ▁ 1 7 IB ▁to ▁L TC ▁Juan ito ▁P ▁All as . ▁ ▁After ▁four ▁years ▁and ▁ 2 0 ▁days ▁of ▁product ive ▁pac ification ▁campaign ▁in ▁the ▁province ▁of ▁Isabel a ▁and ▁C ag ay an , ▁ 1 7 IB ▁was ▁pulled - out ▁of ▁the ▁area ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁March ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁to ▁under go ▁much ▁needed ▁resp ite ▁and ▁rest ▁and ▁recre ation , ▁orientation ▁and ▁re training ▁regarding ▁new ▁tact ics ▁and ▁tr ends ▁in ▁the ▁field ▁of ▁counter - ins ur gency ▁war fare . ▁ ▁After ▁almost ▁two ▁months ▁of ▁re training ▁and ▁re orientation , ▁L TC ▁Adel ino ▁V ▁Mag day ▁took ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁unit ▁on ▁ 7 ▁June ▁ 1 9 7 7 . ▁ ▁Its ▁new ▁A OR ▁covers ▁the ▁tri - bound aries ▁of ▁P amp anga , ▁Z amb ales ▁and ▁the ▁Pen ins ula ▁of ▁B ata an . ▁ ▁The ▁Battalion ▁Command ▁Post ▁was ▁initially ▁established ▁at ▁Sta ▁Lu cia