MEDAL FOR VALOR AWARDEES

SECOND LIEUTENANT HERBERT D DILAG O-12640 PHILIPPINE ARMY

Isabela, Basilan- 30 April 2000

For acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the Squad Leader of the "Suicide Squad", of the First Scout Ranger Battalion, First Scout Ranger Regiment, Special Operations Command, Philippine Army, during the 3 day assault of Hill 898, Camp Abdurrajak, Punoh Mohaji, Isabela, Basilan on 28- 30 April 2000.

With the commencement of the 103rd Brigade's OPLAN "FINAL OPTION", the First Scout Ranger Battalion was directed to attack the highly fortified enemy positions being occupied by more or less 10 fully armed members of the Abu Sayyaf Group who were holding in captivity 28 civilian hostages.

Notwithstanding the heavy rain, hunger, tension and fatigue, and despite of numerous casualties, the Scout Rangers held their ground and engaged the enemy with strong determination and ferocity for the next 24 hours. After sensing the seemingly insurmountable odds, MAJOR CALDEO, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion, decided to execute the final assault with the organization of the 2 "Suicide Squads". The Squads consisting of 14 volunteers were tasked to perform an extremely risky mission of clearing the northeastern bunkers. Uncertain of what could happen to them, the members of the Squads, left their valuables to their supporting comrades to be further given to their loved ones, in anticipation of their deaths. Undaunted by threat posed by the situation and unmindful of their own safety, the Squads headed by SECOND LIEUTENANT DILAG and SECOND LIEUTENANT GONZALES rushed-up the 30-meter 80-degree slope and eventually assaulted the heavily fortified enemy defensive positions. Then they carried out an intense bunker-to-bunker battle. With cunning stealth, the “Suicide Squads” were able to secure the northeastern tip of Hill 898, which was being defended by Khadafy Janjalani’s group. This heroic and gallant act paved the way for the subsequent clearing of the remaining 3 clusters of enemy fortified defensive positions. After 4 hours of close combat, the Squad forced the enemy to withdraw towards the western direction. The 3 day intense firefight resulted to the killing of 7 members of the Abu Sayyaf Group, the recovery of 1 B40 RPG, 1 M653 and M16 rifles, the unearthing of 2 beheaded hostages and the destruction of a seemingly invincible enemy.