iKalinga Medal of Valor awardee, Col. Dilag, takes helm of 503rd Infantry Brigade

FEATURE

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – From a young Army officer who faced a three-day battle against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan to a decorated military leader entrusted with one of the Philippine Army’s key commands in the Cordillera, Colonel Herbert Dilag continues to answer the call of service.

The son of Balbalan, Kalinga, and a recipient of the Medal of Valor, the country’s highest military award, Dilag has been designated acting commander of the 503rd Infantry Brigade, taking on the responsibility of leading its men and women in sustaining peace and order in the province.

He assumed the post following the retirement of Brigadier General Rhenante Salvador on November 6, 2026. Dilag formally received the command from Salvador during a change-of-command ceremony presided over by Major General Gulliver L. Señires, commander of the 5th Infantry Division.

For Dilag, the change in leadership means continuing the brigade’s mission and carrying forward its responsibilities in supporting the province’s peace and security efforts.

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera on November 9, he said the brigade would continue supporting the Philippine National Police (PNP) in maintaining peace and order in Kalinga. It would also pursue the remaining members of the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC) and assist the local government in addressing the ongoing tribal conflict in Tinglayan.

“We continue the mission of the brigade and that is to support the PNP and its implementation of peace and order initiatives here in the province. We also continue to perform our remaining task on ISO [Internal Security Operations] that is to eliminate the remnants of the ICRC and also support the local government in its action of pacifying the tribal conflict in Tinglayan,” he said.

Although his designation is currently on an acting capacity, Dilag said he has yet to receive information on whether he will be permanently appointed as brigade commander or replaced by another officer.

For now, he said, he is focused on fulfilling the duties entrusted to him.

Dilag’s military career is marked by an act of extraordinary courage that earned him the Medal of Valor.

In April 2000, when he was still a second lieutenant, he demonstrated exceptional gallantry and leadership during a high-risk, three-day assault against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan. His actions during the operation earned him the country’s highest military distinction.

Now, more than two decades after that battle, Dilag carries another responsibility: leading the 503rd Infantry Brigade and helping secure the communities of his home province.

As he takes on the role, the iKalinga Valor awardee remains committed to the brigade’s mission of working with local authorities and communities to sustain peace in Kalinga.