San Francisco Consul General Henry S. Bensurto at ceremony before BRP Bonifacio’s departure from Alameda, California US Coast Guard station. CONTRIBUTED
ALAMEDA, California — The Philippine Navy’s latest frigate, the BRP Andres Bonifacio, left the US Coast Guard Base in Alameda, California on Nov. 1, on its voyage to the Philippines. Commanding the ship is Captain Brendo J. Casaclang.
It is the third Del Pilar Class Frigate of the Philippine Navy, following the commissioning of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the BRP Ramon Alcaraz.
Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. led the send-off party composed of Mrs. Mariza Bensurto, Consulate officials, Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché B/Gen Eric Calip and members of the Filipino American community.
Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché B/Gen Eric Calip, Consul General Bensurto, Capt. Brendo Casaclang and a US Coast Guard officer. CONTRIBUTED
Consul General 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 and the Filipino people.
He added that “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.”
The BRP Andres Bonifacio at US Coast Guard station in Alameda, California, before sailing for San Diego and the Philippines. CONTRIBUTED
He 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. 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.