The Philippine Navy will take part in the live-fire phase and maritime maneuvers of the Rim of the Pacific (Rimpac) naval exercises in Hawaii.
According to Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata, the two participating Philippine vessels — the landing dock vessel BRP Davao del Sur and the frigate BRP Andres Bonifacio — set sail on Wednesday (Philippine time) for the Rimpac’s force integration phase where various naval maneuvers and free-play [activities] will be conducted until July 19.
The BRP Andres Bonifacio is the Navy’s third Gregorio del Pilar-class frigate and is equipped with a 76 mm Oto Melara gun and 25 mm secondary cannons.
This is the first time that the Philippines is participating in the Rimpac exercises, the largest international naval exercises, which kicked off on June 27. —Jeannette I. Andrade