Philippine Navy Welcomes New Guided Missile Frigate BRP Diego Silang

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officially welcomed the latest addition to the Philippine Navy fleet, the guided missile frigate BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), during a ceremony held at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales on Monday.

Leading the event were AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., Philippine Navy Commandant Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, and Captain John Percie Alcos, the ship's commanding officer.

In his remarks, General Brawner highlighted the strategic and symbolic significance of the new vessel in bolstering the Philippines' maritime defense capabilities. He stated, "BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07) stands as a testament to our nation’s commitment to protecting our sovereign rights, confronting challenges resolutely, and ensuring the security of our people."

The BRP Diego Silang is the second ship in the Miguel Malvar-class series—3,200-ton frigates constructed by South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries under a P28-billion contract signed with the Department of National Defense in December 2021.

These vessels, measuring 118.4 meters in length and 14.9 meters in width, are outfitted with advanced weaponry, including eight anti-ship missiles, a 16-cell vertical launching system, torpedoes, a 76mm gun, and active electronically scanned array radar systems.

Its sister ship, BRP Miguel Malvar, was delivered in April 2023 and commissioned the following month, marking a significant step in the modernization of the Philippine Navy fleet.

The arrival of BRP Diego Silang further underscores the AFP’s ongoing efforts to enhance national maritime security amid evolving regional maritime dynamics.