It was almost one year gaining substantial and impressive success in its pacification campaign in Central Luzon when it was ordered to be shifted to Southern Philippines specifically in Lanao where Charlie Company was airlifted ahead of the battalion as advance group but was recalled back after two months due to a sudden change of tactical events and consideration.

After four years and 20 days of productive pacification campaign in the province of Isabela and Cagayan, 17IB was pulled-out of the area on 16 March 1977 to undergo much needed respite and rest and recreation, orientation and retraining regarding new tactics and trends in the field of counter-insurgency warfare.

Foremost is the dismantling of well-fortified based camp of Regular na Puwersang Makilos (RPM) influenced barangays of Marag, Kakandungan and Kalabigan, all of Luna, Kalinga-Apayao.

The prevailing situation of the populace paved way to the introduction of Army Literacy Patrol System (ALPS) in Villa Cielo, Buguey, Cagayan, one of the remote sitios of the unit's AOR, benefiting 200 students from the poor and under-privileged members of our society.

During the third quarter of 1987, new AOR re-sectoring took place and so, the unit took responsibility over the towns of Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Pamplona and a portion of Abulog, Luna, Pudtol and Flora from the 54IB.

The unit inspired by its successful outcome, SOT operation was pursued at Southwestern Allacapan and extended in Abulog resulting to the voluntary surrender of more than 1,600 Subversive Mass Activists (SMA).

The unit headquarters with line companies moved from station in the province of Ifugao occupying Northeastern Cagayan, Calanasan, Conner and Kabugao of Kalinga-Apayao as its new AOR.

In continuation of what has been started, the unit conducted tactical offensive operations that led to the recovery of 70 HPFAs, 24 LPFAs, 113 anti-personnel/tank mines, numerous explosive paraphernalia and considerable war materials.

The program which benefited thousands of indigent individuals was so successful that it was conducted in other municipalities in Isabela namely: Burgos, Mallig and Delfin Albano before MAJ Delos Reyes' term ended.

At the peak of 2nd Quarter of 2001, LTC Juanito W Dalmas INF (GSC) PA assumed command effective 01 July 2001 relieving MAJ Felix pursuant to Section II, General Orders Nr 357, H5ID dated 07 June 2001.

The unit continues to struggle on its assigned and mandated mission specifically on TRIAD Operations in the whole province of Abra, part of Ilocos Sur and eight municipalities of Southern Benguet including Baguio City.

Remarkable in enemy personnel strength reduction was the apprehension of two prominent personalities of ICRC namely: Evelyn Cruz Bedana @Arceli Arciaga/Rhoda/Seles – the secretary and Josephine Gammad Perez @Eloisa/Piel/Loren – the Political Officer.

With the successful relieved-in-place with the 41st Infantry Battalion on 5 December 2003, the unit is tasked to revitalize and reinvigorate the Internal Security Operations (ISO) campaign to address effectively the insurgency situation in Cagayan and Northern Apayao.

The 17th Infantry Battalion under the sterling leadership of LT COL Pablo L Liwan Jr INF (GSC) PA is continuously undertaking its effort by employing TRIAD operations at the different priority target barangays/places within AO in coordination with the PNP to totally annihilate the remaining CTs in the AOR.

The conduct of sustained combat operations resulted to five encounters as follows: Encounter against more or less nine communist terrorists by the operating troops of 17IB, MIG2, RIID, PRO2, DIU and Cagayan PPO at Brgy Calaoagan, Piat, Cagayan on 021320 April 2004 which resulted to the capture of Christina Miguel Garcia @Senyang, Secretary of Northern Front, CVRC, Lolito Raza @Lanlan, Manny de Guzman @Dekdek and Flordeliza Welba @Elyan.

The encounter with eight CTs and two amazons at So Socsoc, Agaman Norte, Baggao, Cagayan by the troops of Charlie Company, 17IB under LT Tubera that resulted to the recovery of subversive documents with high intelligence value.

This followed by another encounter with the same troops on 181600 June 2004 at vicinity So Sacaran, Tanglagan, Gattaran, Cagayan that resulted to the capture of CT Dennis Cabrera, member of SYP1, SECOM 2 and recovery of subversive documents.

A fifteen-minute firefight on 101130 July 2004 by the troops of “A” Coy, 17IB under 2LT ARCILLAS against more or less seven bandits/other criminal elements at Sitio Mangisit, Salvacion, Luna, Apayao that resulted to the rescue of more or less 130 hostages and recovery of 32 trucks and one homemade shotgun from the bandits.

On Civil Military Operations, since 1 January 2004 to 14 April 2005, the unit conducted four MEDCAP in Calanasan, Apayao and at Brgys Bural and San Juan, both of Rizal and Brgy Balanni, Sto Nino, all of Cagayan benefiting the less fortunate residents.

More or less 100 civilians were also successfully rescued on the hostage taking by the group of lawless elements believed to be bandits at Sitio Mangisit, Brgy Salvacion, Luna, Apayao on 08-10 July 2004.

Likewise, he directed the conduct of 19 SOT operations that disrupted the Northern Front guerrilla bases and paralyzed the CAGUIMUNGAN, an NDF affiliated sectoral group and surrender of eight NPA regulars, 33 militia ng bayan, 175 subversive mass activists and 597 supporters/sympathizers.

He aggressively implemented the unit's Civil Military Operations (CMO) programs in the conduct of 124 pulong-pulong/dialogue to barangays; 63 symposia to both secondary and tertiary schools of Cagayan; the donation of an estimated total of 77,000 cc of fresh blood to Cagayan Valley Medical Center; the attendance to 70 inter-agency Peace and Order Councils from barangay to regional levels; joint initiation of 11 MEDCAPs; and the participation to environmental protection through confiscation of 32,500 board feet of banned logs and planting of 56,000 trees of different species.

In logistics, he initiated the major repairs and construction of facilities; the procurement of communication and IT equipment; and the maintenance of mobility assets to enhance the operational capability of the unit.

He initiated the conduct of a province-wide grand peace rally in Tuguegarao City – the first military-initiated peace march in the entire province and dubbed as the first grand peace march spearheaded by the military in the entire country which was participated in by more or less 25, 000 delegates coming from the different sectors of society, such as; students/teachers from the different schools/universities in Tuguegarao City and other places in Cagayan, employees of LGUs and LGAs of the province, NGOs and NGAs; religious communities led by Archbishop Diosdado A Talamayan, Rebel Returnees, Reservists, people from the different municipalities led by their respective Mayors, Organizations of farmers and workers, and AFP/PNP elements in Cagayan that served as a show window of the people's support to the programs of the AFP and to our democratic form of government.

Press releases were published in both local and national newspapers while symposia to the different high schools, colleges and universities; pulong-pulong/dialogue and distribution of leaflets to the different far-flung barangays were accomplished.

Moreover, he initiated major and minor repairs of the unit buildings and facilities, the construction of billeting areas for personnel and other service support facilities at battalion headquarters, Advance Command Post, Patrol Bases and at the Rear Command Post (RCP); acquired ordnance, special ordnance and quarter master materials to higher headquarters; and the procurement of communication and mobility assets to enhance the operational capability of the unit.

His dedication in the service is a manifestation of his courage and determination to combat the insurgency problem, illegal activities and criminalities in the Provinces of Cagayan and five municipalities of Lower Apayao to include the Batanes Group of Islands.

He enthusiastically continues the proud beginnings of the unit and looking forward to accomplish the mission and vision of the Battalion and thereby creating an atmosphere of peace and progress in the area of operation.

These armed engagements also resulted to the recovery of six high powered and two low-powered FAs; 12 IEDs; one PC Laptop with printer, external drive, USB modem and two memory card readers; three cellular phones with seven sim cards; a 250-pound general-purpose bomb; hand grenade; bandolier with 10 long and 3 short magazines for M16 rifle; different ammunitions; one Honda generator; numerous blasting caps, wires, command detonating switches, triggering devices and batteries; assorted electrical accessories; and various subversive documents containing high intelligence value.

On 20 March 2012, the troops of Bravo company under 1LT Dela Cruz and the squad under Tsg Barangay encountered at Brgy Aridowen, Sta teresita, Cagayan which resulted to the two body count on enemy side, recovery of two M16 rifle (Colt) and subversive documents.