Philippine Welcomes Offshore Patrol Vessel BRP Rajah Lakandula

THE Philippines received its newest Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), the future BRP Rajah Lakandula at Naval Operating Base-Subic. The ship arrived in the country on May 4 and will be commissioned soon.

The ship’s arrival ceremony was attended by Philippine Navy (PN) Flag Officer In Command (FOIC), Vice Admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Q Ezpeleta and the Commander, Philippine Fleet, Rear Admiral Joe Anthony C Orbe.

Built by South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI), its arrival signifies another milestone in the Navy’s ongoing capability development efforts and underscores their commitment to enhancing maritime security operations and maintaining a credible naval presence.

Equipped with advanced anti-submarine acoustic detection and configurable mission module spaces, the Rajah Sulayman-class vessel is designed for maritime surveillance, security operations, and naval missions. The Rajah Lakandula is the second vessel in the Rajah Sulayman-class, with the lead vessel BRP Rajah Sulayman being commissioned in February. HD HHI said that the Rajah Sulayman was successfully delivered five months ahead of the originally scheduled delivery date.

“When this ship sails, the spirit of Rajah Lakandula sails with it — steadfast, wise, and unyielding. We are telling the world that we are a peace-loving nation. Our resolve to protect what is ours is as deep as the trenches of the Philippines,” Philippine Military Academy superintendent VAdm Caesar Bernard Valencia emphasised as he highlighted the significance of the vessel’s arrival and its namesake, Rajah Lakandula, the pre-colonial ruler of Tondo and a symbol of courage and leadership in Philippine history.–shp/adj/dl (Pix:PN)