Ang Pahayagan

ZAMBALES — Offshore combat ships of the Philippine Navy (PN) held a unilateral exercise aimed at sustaining and improving the operational proficiency of both assets and personnel while conducting sovereignty patrol in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), particularly in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc on January 17.

Headlined by the multi-mission capable frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), PN capital ships currently deployed in the WPS include the Del Pilar-class patrol vessels BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) and BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17).

RAdmiral Joe Anthony Orbe, Commander of the Philippine Fleet said the officers and crew of the three vessels trained on routine surface operations fostering their expertise and mastery in handling and manning the modern systems toward the efficient utilization of these combat ships in support of the Navy’s overall mission.

“The conduct of this routine unilateral exercise demonstrates the importance of training as an effective tool to achieve and maintain the level of readiness and interoperability that is crucial in the fulfillment of the Navy’s mandate of securing the seas and upholding the nation’s territorial integrity”, Orbe added.