PNoy says new warship will defend Phl territory

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday led the nation's official welcoming of the Philippine Navy's newest warship, which he said will help in defending the country's territorial waters.

Aquino said the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, which took a nearly two-month journey to the Philippines, will also help in search and rescue operations at sea and in protecting the country's marine resources.

"Narito na ang BRP Alcaraz. Tiyak na lalo pang mapapaigting ang pagpapatrolya natin sa Philippine exclusive economic zone at ang kakayahan nating sugpuin ang anumang banta at masasamang elemento," Aquino said in his speech.

With the arrival of the Alcaraz, Aquino again vowed to further push modernization in the country's armed forces.

"Binubura na po natin ang dating imahe ng kulang-kulang na kagamitan at pahirapang kalagayan ng ating mga kawal ng bayan," he added.

Navy Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano also said the Alcaraz is a "significant boost" in the efforts to defend the country's territorial waters.

Meanwhile, Capt. Ernesto Baldovino, the commanding officer of the Alcaraz, said the ship's successful journey to the Philippines is a victory of the naval leaders and of the entire nation.

Last week, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government was not thinking of matching China's military power and the acquisition of the new warship is part of the country's military modernization.

China and the Philippines are tangled in a territorial dispute as the Asian giant is pressing its indisputable sovereignty over the entire West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

"The step by step upgrading that we are getting in pursuing the modernization in the military has to be done also with an eye to the other programs that we have, given that we have limitations in budget," she said.

During the Independence Day rites last June, Aquino vowed that the Philippines will not back down from any threat against its sovereignty, but said  the country will not resort to aggression in resolving territorial disputes.

"Habang iginigiit natin ang ating mga karapatan, kailangan din nating ipakita ang tunay na karapatan ng mga Pilipino. Wala sa lahi natin ang pagiging agresibo, pero hindi rin tayo titiklop sa anumang hamon," the President said.

BRP Alcaraz reached Philippine waters last August 2 via Casiguran, Aurora. It is manned by 14 officers and 74 enlisted personnel.

The ship left its homeport in Charleston, South Carolina last June 10 and made port visits to San Diego and Honolulu, Hawaii before sailing for its last stopover in Guam. The BRP Alcaraz started sailing for Manila on July 27.

The ship was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Navy officer who commanded a patrol boat that shot three Japanese aircraft during World War II.

The Philippine government spent P600 million to acquire the Alcaraz.