(Photo courtesy of Philippine Navy)
MANILA – The Philippines' Consul General and members of the Filipino community in Guam paid a visit to the missile-frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) while the ship was refueling and reprovisioning at the Naval Base Guam last June 14.
"Consul General Patrick John Hilado, the Consulate General of the Philippines in Guam, along with members of the Filipino community came aboard the Philippine Navy frigate BRP Antonio Luna on June 14, 2022," Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Commander Benjo Negranza said in a statement Wednesday night.
The ship is currently docked at the U2 Pier of Naval Base Guam for a short layover in preparation for its voyage to Hawaii for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise which is scheduled from June 29 to August 4.
BRP Antonio Luna and Naval Task Group (NTG) 80.5 left Naval Operating Base Subic last June 8 and arrived in Guam last June 12.
"Officers and crew of FF-151, led by its commanding officer Captain Charles Merric Villanueva welcomed the visitors aboard and toured them around one of the country's most modern and capable warships," he added.
Negranza said this activity is aimed to foster national pride among the Filipinos in Guam by showcasing the brand-new asset of the Navy.
"It was also an opportunity to let them feel the spirit of camaraderie and brand of Filipino hospitality abroad," he added.
The BRP Antonio Luna's stopover in Guam is intended for replenishment in preparation for its voyage to Hawaii where it will participate in RIMPAC 2022, the world’s largest naval exercise.
RIMPAC is held biennially to promote regional stability in the Pacific Region. Around 25,000 personnel from 26 participating nations are set to join the 28th iteration of RIMPAC which was first conducted in 1971.
Negranza earlier said NTG 80.5 will help develop, maintain, and enhance the Navy’s pursuit of maritime collaboration with its counterparts through the exercise.
The PN's participation in RIMPAC 2022, themed “Capable, Adaptive, Partners,” will be its third in the largest and premier maritime exercise, after its maiden participation in 2018 and its sophomore run in 2020.
In the 2018 RIMPAC, the Navy deployed the offshore patrol vessel, BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17), and the landing dock BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602).
In the 2020 iteration of the maritime exercise, the PN sent the country's first missile frigate, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150).
Both the BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna are capable of anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare operations.
The contract for the two ships was PHP16 billion and an additional PHP2 billion was spent on weapon systems and munitions. (PNA)
