Tayaban has taken over today 26 June 2024 from outgoing commander Lt. Col Van Donald Almonte, who has led what is considered the “fightingest” maneuver in the Philippine Army.
“Mission accomplished,” Almonte said during the turnover ceremonies witnessed by local government and private partners, as he referenced the accomplishments of the battalion under him, including questions he had when he first assumed as battalion leader two years.
He also acknowledged and gave credit to the battalion officers, what he called his “band of brothers” which served the Island through their leadership in the battlefield.
“Lead your men and look out for their well-being,” he said as he encouraged the 94th IB fighters to cast shadows that would be the stuff of nightmares of the enemy.
On the other hand, Tayaban said he is “honored” to assume the reins as new commanding officer of 94th IB, promising to uphold the “high standards” of the battalion as set by Almonte’s “exemplary” leadership.
303rd Infantry Brigade BGen Orlando Edralin acknowledged the efforts of Almonte whom he described as “performed beyond my expectations”, adding, “There are no words to describe the kind of leader that you are.”
Almonte’s successor, Edralin said, has very big shoes to fill given the accomplishments of the battalion for the past two years.
The 94th IB is among the storied battalions as it has continuously fought againts Communist terrorism through a series of skirmishes in the upland villages of Negros Island.
It has been credited for the deaths of at least three Communist cadres and leaders through a including series of skirmishes. These has led to also a series of firsts in Negros island – the battlefield death of a rebel in the mountain village of Carabalan in Himamaylan City during which the youngest battalion commander of the 303rd IB, Almonte led the 94th IB.
The Carabalan clashes had led to the death of Romeo Nanta alias Juanito Magbanua who then headed the Regional Operations Command of the New People’s Army and, later, Rudy Posadas alias Ka Putin who was identified as secretary of the unified regional executive committee for the islands of Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor based in Negros.
