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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte to lead commissioning of PN's missile-capable frigate

Duterte to lead commissioning of PN's missile-capable frigate

Published Jul 7, 2020 02:47 pm

The Philippine Navy (PN) announced that President Duterte would lead the much-awaited commissioning of BRP Jose Rizal, its first ever and brand new missile-capable frigate.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(ALBERT ALCAIN / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, PN Flag Officer in Command, said the tentative date for the commissioning of the new frigate is on Friday, July 10, at Alava Wharf, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in Olongapo, Zambales.

However, Bacordo said the date of the commissioning might still change as Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque disclosed that Duterte would stay home in Davao City this week.

"Naghahanap kami ng schedule kay Presidente but we recommended to him July 10 at 4 p.m. at Alava Wharf, SBMA. Pero hindi pa nagconfirm hanggang ngayon (We are finding  schedule for the President but we recommended to him July 10 at 4 p.m. at Alava Wharf, SBMA. He has yet to confirm his attendance until now)," Bacordo said.

According to the Navy Chief, they are amenable to other ways where the Commander-in-Chief can witness the program, including via virtual means.

Nonetheless, the Navy's top official said he understands the restrictions imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to secure the health of the President.

Earlier, Duterte expressed his desire to board the Navy's newest ship, which was delivered by South Korean shipmaker Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

"I want to board that new frigate... I want to board just to see how good it is," he said in a public address on June 22.

The frigate was originally scheduled for commissioning on June 19, coinciding with the birth date of the national hero and the ship's namesake, Dr. Jose Rizal.

However, it was postponed by the Navy due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The frigate arrived in the country from the HHI shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea last May 23, a month delayed from its original scheduled date of delivery in April due to travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic.

The 351 by 46-feet warship weighs 2,600 tons and is capable of fighting the four dimensions of warfare namely anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and electronic warfare (EW).

It is fully equipped with surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, torpedoes, and launchers.

The frigate is the lead ship of its class and was built together with its sister ship, the future BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), which is set to be delivered in September of this year.

The two missile frigates are part of an P18-billion contract between the Philippines and South Korea in October 2016. Each frigate costs P8 billion, with some P2 billion allotted for their systems and munitions.

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