Ageing navy warship visits Zamboanga

 A Philippine Marine stands guard in Zamboanga City where the DRP Gregorio del Pilar made a stopover on its way to Davao City in Mindanao. (Photo by E. Dumaboc)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A refurbished 50-year old US Coast Guard ship bought by the Philippines made a stopover here on its way to Davao City in southern Philippines.

The Philippines obtained the ship, now named BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, in 2011. The ship was a former US Coast Guard Weather High Endurance Cutter. The stopover, officials said, also allowed the public to see the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, which is now considered by the navy as a modern war ship.

Capt. Vincent Sibala, the ship’s commanding officer, said BRP Gregorio Del Pilar boasts of big guns and modern navigational system, among others. He said the voyage of the war ship in many parts of the country is a regular routine.

In September 2012, American and Filipino sailors also worked together to repair and maintain submarine USS Frank Cable - which was on a goodwill visit - and the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar at Subic Bay in the Philippines and at the same time knowledge and honed basic engineering and technical skills, and improved their ships’ inter-operability.

The USS Frank Cable’s routine port call and goodwill visit highlighted the mutual benefits of the Philippine-US defense relationship, as well as the strong historic, community, and military connections between the two countries. (E. Dumaboc)

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