Philippine Navy’s Fast Frigate arrives in Zamboanga City

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (December 9, 2017) - The Philippine Navy’s Fast Frigate, BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF15) is scheduled to arrive in Zamboanga City on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Zamboanga City Pier, military official said. 

Information officer Rear Admiral Rene V. Medina AFP, Commander, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) disclosed that the said vessel will be having its “OPEN HOUSE” on Dec 10-11, 2017 to showcase its capability as a Fast Frigate as well as to give opportunity to the populace of Zamboanga City for a guided tour aboard ship. The ship is open for public from 9 o’clock in the morning until 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

RADM Medina said that the conduct of the Open House will be facilitated by the Naval Reserve Center-Western Mindanao (NRCen-WM), Civil Military Operations Unit- Western Mindanao (CMOU-WM) and in coordination with all the units of Naval Forces Western Mindanao and the Municipality of Zamboanga City.

BRP Gregorio Del Pilar is under the command of Capt Ireneo D Battung PN (GSC) and composed of about 80 crew members. The arrival of BRP Gregorio Del Pilar is aimed to promote peace, develop friendly relations and bring the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines closer to the hearts of the Zamboanguenos and of the Filipino people in general. 

Recently, FF15 along with one of the PN’s Landing Docks, BRP Tarlac (LD601) participated in the ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercises 2017 (AMNEX) held Sattahip and Pattaya Bay in Thailand last  Nov. 13-22, 2017, RADM Medina added.

The said exercise is a maritime security collaboration of navies in Southeast Asia Region which is in conjunction with the commemoration of the 50th ASEAN founding anniversary.

BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF15) is the first Del Pilar Class ship of the Philippine

Navy which was commissioned last December 14, 2011. It was also the second ship named after the revolutionary general, Gregorio Del Pilar, during the Battle of Tirad Pass.