CAMP BITONG, Aurora—A former member of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti has been named the new commander of the 56th Infantry (Tatag) Battalion based in this town.
Army Lt. Col. Louie DS Villanueva, previously the battalion commander of the 84th Infantry (Victorious) Battalion, replaced Lt. Col. Joey A. Escanillas during the change of command ceremonies at the 56th IB’s general headquarters in Barangay Calabuanan in Baler Friday presided by 7th Infantry Division (7th ID) commander, Maj. Gen. Angelito de Leon.
During the turnover rites, Villanueva vowed to continue the Army Transformation Roadmap (ATR) implemented in the 56th IB’s jurisdiction by Escanillas who was reassigned as chief of staff at the 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City.
Under Escanillas’ stewardship, the 56th IB—with its best practices and novel concepts— emerged as best battalion for 2015 among the nine infantry battalions of the 7th ID based in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, the country’s largest military camp.
Villanueva, who was 84th IB chief since last August, was a member of the elite UN peacekeeping force in Haiti from November 2011 to October 2012.
He started his military career in 1994 and was assigned in Eastern Samar until 2001. From 2001 to 2004, Villanueva was at the Army’s general headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.
He was then transferred to Davao City from 2004 to 2008 and returned to Fort Bonifacio where he stayed up to 2010.
