Solon: Deploy new Navy
ship to deter incursions
The vice chairman of the House
Committee on National Defense
yesterday urged the government
to make its presence felt in Phil-
, ippine territorial waters that have
becsme the target of ineursions
by Chinese military vessels, say-
ing that the newly acquired ship
frorn South Korea should be sent
to these areas.
Muntinlupa City Rep. Rufff Bi-
azon aired the recommendation
as he congratulated the Philippine
Navy for the a'rrival of the BRP
Conrado Yap (PS-39), a war ship
donated by South Korea to the
Philippines.
"This is a boost to the country's
defense," said Biazon. "With the
intrusions by foreign military ships
into the country's waters, the
Philipp'rpe Navy, to accomplish its
mandate and duty, must now uti-
lize its ships to assert the country's
sovereignty in waters that belong
to it," he said, apparently referring
to the Chinese warships that have
been stealthily passing Sibutu
Strait in Tawi-Tawi.
Biazon said the PS-39 and other
naval vessels of the Philippines
should make their presence felt
in the Sibutu Strait.
sOnce PS-39 has been equipped
with the needed tactical systems,
it could be sent to patrol Sibutu
Strait in Tawi-Tawito establish the
Navyt presence in and coverage
of the country's backdoor where
not only are there activities by
smugg[ers, pirates,'and illegal
fishing vessels but there are also
unauthorized intrusions by a for-
eign navy," he stated.
According to him, the latest
addition to the PN fleet has the
"'strongest firepower with its
complement of weapons that give
ittapalillties to deal with surface,
sub-surface, and air threats."
"The coryette is capable of sail-
ing at a speed of up to 32 knots
and a range of 4,000 nautical miles
and operate at sea for 20 days,"
he noted.
.Xs
an off-shore patrolvesselfor
the Philippine Navy, the BRP Con-
rado Yap witl bolster the country's
defense of its territorial integrity
and provide presence in its mari-
time domain," the Metro ,Manila
solon added. (Ben R. Rosario)
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