By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao–Eastern (OPAMINE) with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ units here welcomed on Tuesday afternoon, April 23, the arrival of a patrol vessel at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan.
Presidential Assist. for Eastern Mindanao Leo Tereso Magno with Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) commander Com. Alfonspin Tumanda Jr. and Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) acting commander Brig. Gen. Consolito Yecla welcomed the BRP Ladislao Diwa.
BRP Ladislao Diwa, an Alvarez–class patrol vessel and the Philippine Navy’s third ship of the class, is equipped to conduct full maritime patrols, engage in surface battles using its naval weaponry, and carry out search and rescue missions.
As the NFEM formally assumed operation control of the BRP Ladislao Diwa, Magno said it was a blessing to the NFEM to boost their forces’ morale further. He also thanked the leadership of the Philippine Navy for bringing the BRP Ladislao Diwa vessel to the Eastern Mindanao region.
Magno, also the Cabinet Officer for Regional Developments and Security (CORDS), expressed his willingness to cooperate with the NFEM. He said the security forces mean a lot to him as they risk their lives to ensure the country’s and its people’s safety.
Amid China’s aggression over the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea, the Philippines and the United States earlier pledged to support a rule-based system and prevent any actions that could disrupt peace and stability in the entire country.
Ladislao Diwa was earlier commissioned to join the Philippine Navy’s fleet through US military financing worth P780 million (13.8 million USD). It used to patrol the waters of the Arabian Gulf to support operations in the Middle East, including Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. (Photos from the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao–Eastern (OPAMINE)