New PH Navy frigate leaves California

The send-off

THE Philippine Navy’s latest frigate, the Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Andres Bonifacio, has left California.

The ship left the US Coast Guard Base in Alameda, California and embarked on its voyage to the Philippines on November 1 with Captain Brendo J. Casaclang in command.

Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. led the sendoff party which included Consulate officials, military attaché B/Gen Eric Calip and members of the Filipino-American
community.

In his speech, Bensurto congratulated the crew for completing their training, and for preparing the BRP Andres Bonifacio to take on its new mission of protecting the Philippines.

“Traditional and non-traditional security concerns continue to confront our country, and the BRP Andres Bonifacio and its crew would indeed be a welcome asset of the Philippine Navy and the Armed Force of the Philippines in addressing these concerns,” he said.

Bensurto also thanked the US Coast Guard personnel who, on top of their regular duties, provided support and assistance in training the crew of the Andres Bonifacio.

He personally thanked the crew for their “selfless service and sacrifice to defend and protect our beloved country.”

Following tradition, he wished the crew a safe journey across the Pacific Ocean and “fair winds, clear skies and following seas.”

At the end of the Ceremony, the crew immediately boarded the ship and prepared to depart the US Coast Guard base for their next port of call in San Diego, California.

The BRP Andres Bonifacio is the third high-endurance US Coast Guard cutter that was transferred to the Philippines last July, as part of the Excess Defense Articles Program