Newly-acquired PHL warship enters country's economic zone

The Philippine Navy's newly acquired warship entered Philippine waters Wednesday afternoon and is expected to dock at a Philippine port this coming week. Navy officials said the BRP Gregorio del Pilar entered the Philippines' exclusive economic zone around 1 p.m., radio dzBB's Benjie Liwanag Jr. reported. But the Navy said that while the ship entered Philippine territory ahead of schedule, it will have to be repainted and fitted with equipment first before it can be used. The ship, acquired from the United States, had made visits to Hawaii and Guam on its voyage to the Philippines. Its 95-member crew underwent training to handle it. The BRP Gregorio del Pilar was formerly a US Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutter. The Philippines acquired it under its Foreign Military Sales program. "Once the largest ship of the US Coast Guard, the Hamilton is the first gas-turbine jet engine-powered vessel in the Philippine Navy fleet, making it the fastest, biggest, most powerful, and the flagship vessel of the Philippine Navy," the Department of Foreign Affairs said. [See related story: PHL's biggest warship vs China's first aircraft carrier] It described the ship as "a high endurance cutter with a close-in weapons system" and features a helicopter flight deck with a retractable hangar, giving it capabilities for rescue operations and maritime law enforcement. — LBG, GMA News