President Duterte will have a virtual presence in the handover and commissioning of the Philippine Navy’s first ever multi-capable frigate, the BRP Jose Rizal, in Zambales on Friday, July 10.
(ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
While the President was invited to grace the occasion, Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said the health restrictions due to the threat of COVID-19 prevented the Chief Executive from joining the activity.
“Even the Presidential Security Group (PSG) will recommend for the President not to go. We understand that because of health reasons, we also do not want the President to be exposed unnecessarily,” said Bacordo.
“But he is going to deliver his message, it would be a virtual presence,” he added.
The BRP Jose Rizal, also described as a missile-capable frigate, was built in South Korea and was supposed to be commissioned on the birthdate of the Philippine’s national hero last month but was delayed due to some circumstances.
The ship is described to be capable in conducting anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare operations.
The procurement of the frigate was signed in 2016 along with another frigate, BRP Antonio Luna, which was commissioned in November last year, for P16 billion.
There is no discussion yet as to where the BRP Jose Rizal would be deployed but Bacordo said it will be used when the Philippine Navy joins the Rim of the Pacific military exercises next month.
“We will first join the RIMPAC 2020 this Aug. 17 to 31 then later on it is going to be a strategic asset, meaning, she will only be deployed when necessary,” said Bacordo.
He said BRP Jose Rizal will leave by July 29 for Guam and then Hawaii to join RIMPAC 2020.