Dumating na sa El Nido, Palawan ang pinakabagong barko ng Philippine Navy na nagmula sa Sangley Point, Cavite City. Ang BRP Andres Bonifacio PS17 ay gagamitin sa Maritime Patrol sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) at may kakayahan itong makipagsabayan sa mga helicopters.
“PS17 is one of the new ships of the Navy po. She’s a patrol ship and very capable in the high seas. She also has a flight deck and hangar that makes her capable of air operations utilizing our Augusta helicopters,” saad ni Major Cheryl Tindog, Spokesperson ng Western Command.
Agad naman nagkaroon ng joint operation ang Wescom sakay sa BRP Andres Bonufacio si Phil. Navy Vice Admiral Alberto B Carlos, Commander ng AFP Western Command, upang masubukan ang kakayahan nito sa maritime patrol at tinungo ang Malampaya Gas Fields, Nido at Matinloc Oil Platforms na isa sa mahigpit na binabantayan ng Philippine Navy.
Aniya, ang barko ay nakahanda na para sa operation sa West Philippine Sea.
“She is ready to perform her territorial defense functions at WESCOM,” pahayag ni Vice Admiral Carlos. “PS17 is indeed very mission-capable and I am confident that she will significantly strengthen our naval presence in the West Philippine Sea and secure our oil platforms,” ani Carlos.