BRP Conrado Yap to be deployed to Palawan to protect PHL waters —Empedrad

The BRP Conrado Yap prepares to dock at Pier 13 in Manila on August 20, 2019.  Danny Pata

The BRP Conrado Yap, the Philippine Navy's most powerful ship, will be deployed to Palawan, according to Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad on Tuesday.

"Itong si Condrado Yap, kakarating niya lang kasi nagtago sa bagyo 'yun eh, nagpunta ng Mindanao 'yun eh, tapos kababalik niya na, naghahanda na siya for deployment to Palawan," Empedrad told reporters.

The Navy had sent ships, including the Conrado Yap, to Mindanao to help in distributing assistance to victims of the earthquakes that hit the region in October.

Empedrad said the vessel, which has an anti-submarine warfare capability, will be sent to Palawan to protect Philippine waters.

"Para safe... to patrol our maritime waters whether it's in West Philippine Sea or Philippine Rise, 'yun ang role ng Philippine Navy," Empedrad said.

Empedrad further said the BRP Conrado Yap will also help in executing President Rodrigo Duterte's order to rid Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea of pirates.

"Kailangan natin ng malaki-laki sa Palawan so that kaya ng malalaking alon, malalaki ang alon sa Palawan eh... puwede rin siyang mai-move sa ano, kasi may pinaguusapan, kasi ang plano ni Sir 'yung pronouncement ni PRRD to get rid Sulu, Celebes Sea of pirates, kailangan nating lagyan malalaking barko doon," Empedrad said.

"Laging may barko doon sa Sulu at saka Celebes Sea eh, 'yun lang ang paraan para maprevent natin piracy na mangyayari or hostage na mangyayari sa dagat," he added.

The vessel, a Pohang-class corvette donated by South Korea, was named after Captain Conrado Yap, a decorated Filipino soldier who was part of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea during the 1950s. — BM, GMA News