Philippine Navy christens two new gunboats, inaugurates shipyard

The Philippine Navy took possession of two more Israeli-built gunboats that were well-suited for patrolling the country's territorial waters, Chino Gaston reported Tuesday on 24 Oras.

The Acero Class vessels have a range of 1,000 nautical miles and are capable of speeds of over 40 knots.

The boat's main armament is a 30mm automatic cannon which is aimed using an advanced weapon optical and targeting system.

During a christening ceremony, the vessels were named after two Philippine Marine Medal of Valor recipients - Corporal Gener Tinangag and Sargent Domingo Delauna.

"Proud ako, sir, dahil sa ginawa niyang kabayanihan bilang isang sundalo, sir," said Deluana's widow Jasmine Joyce Escobido, who was present at the christening.

(I'm proud of the heroism he showed as a Marine.)

Meanwhile, Tinangag's sister, Violeta Sastre, said, "Nagpapasalamat ako dahil hindi nila kinalimutan ang ginawang kabayanihan."

(I'm grateful that they haven't forgotten my brother's heroism.)

The Navy already had four other Acero gunboats and was waiting for the delivery of five more.

The Philippines had bought the boats for $200 million from Israel Shipyard Inc.

The two newly-christened gunboats would undergo sea trials before being fully accepted by the Philippine Navy.

Meanwhile, some of the soon-to-arrive five gunboats would be built in the Philippines in a newly constructed Navy shipbuilding facility.

"We have our newly acquired state-of-the-art war fighting machines, the naval gunboats, and an upgraded shipbuilding center that will soon revive our shipbuilding capability," said Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Roribio Adaci Jr. during the shipbuilding facility's inauguration.

Also present at the facility inauguration was Senate President Migz Zubiri.

"In all our caucuses sinasabi ko na huwag tayong pumayag na ang ating mga sundalo at Navy personnel ay nakasakay lamang sa rubber boat habang ipinaglalaban nila ang sovereignty ng ating bansa. So we are going to forward with the budgeting process," said  Zubiri.

(In all our caucuses, I've said that we shouldn't allow our soldiers and sailors to use rubber boats to defend the country's sovereignty.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News