By 06 Maret 2017
BRP Andres Bonifacio PF-17 (all photos : Jess Estaño Ladero Jr)
BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF), Philippine Navy’s third Gregorio del Pilar-class frigate, is now painted naval gray. Gray is the official color of Navy’s warships. Photos of BRP Andres Bonifacio painted in gray were uploaded by Jess Estaño Ladero Jr. in his social networking account.
PF-17 completed her maiden mission to southern Philippines covering the areas of Cebu, Iloilo, Zamboanga, General Santos City, Davao and Iligan City, early Febraury. The mission, Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 2017 sea phase training and shakedown mission for Andres Bonifacio’s personnel, started mid-January.
Once painted naval gray, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expects BRP Andres Bonifacio to patrol Sulu waters and help other naval units in curbing down kidnapping and piracy incidents in the area.
“This ship will certainly be a valuable platform in the pursuit of the constitutional mandate of the Armed Forces of the Philippines this will strengthen the PN capabilities in raising the country’s security concerns in the protection of our territorial integrity, and maritime interest,” Lorenzana said in December 2016.
She will be joining the BRP Tarlac (LD-601), the country’s first strategic sealift vessel, in conducting the above-mentioned patrols.
(Update)
