By Priam Nepomuceno

Missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) (File photo courtesy of AFP)

MANILA – Three of the country’s major warships carried out a “unilateral exercise” aimed at enhancing and improving their crew and operation efficiencies while conducting sovereignty patrol in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement, Philippine Fleet public affairs office chief Lt. Commander Randy Garbo said the drill took place “in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc”.

The warships include the multi-mission capable frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), the Philippine Navy capital ships currently deployed in the WPS — the Del Pilar-class patrol vessels BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) and BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17), Garbo said.

Capital ships refer to vessels considered the most capable or updated in any naval fleet.

“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,” Garbo said.

He said the routine exercise is vital in maintaining the readiness and interoperability that are crucial to fulfilling the Navy’s mandate of securing the seas.

Meanwhile, PN spokesperson Commander John Percie Alcos, in a separate message, said the activity is a normal part of the Navy’s operations.

“Normally,  all warships even those of different navies conduct regular exercises, it just so happened that the three of them were in the same vicinity so they had the opportunity to conduct warfighting exercises amongst them,” he added.

Alcos added that exercises are a continuous thing for all military units.

“Ang purpose nito (the purpose) is for us to be very competent in the four dimensions of warfare which is anti-surface, anti-air, anti-submarine and electronic warfare,” he added. (PNA)