Navy's new warship enters Phl territory

MANILA, Philippines - After more than a month of journey, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz has finally entered the country's territorial waters, the Philippine Navy announced on Thursday. 

According to a report from the Philippine News Agency, Navy Spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said the vessel entered Philippine waters around 1 a.m.

However, he declined to give the specific coordinates of the ship for "operational security reasons."

Fabic added that the Alcaraz will be escorted by sister ship BRP Gregorio Del Pilar.

The country's newest warship left Charleston, South Carolina last June 10 (American time) and made port stops in Mayport, Florida; San Diego, California, Hawaii, and Guam.

The ship also crossed the Panama Canal during her voyage home.

It is expected to arrive on August 3 and will dock at the Subic Freeport the following day, where it will be repainted grey, the color of the Philippine Navy. 

An arrival ceremony is slated for August 6 and the Alcaraz is expected to be commissioned by the second week of October.

President Benigno Aquino III is expected to be the guest of honor at the welcome ceremony.

The newest acquisition of the Navy is a 378-foot Hamilton-class weather high endurance cutter decommissioned by the US Coast Guard that had undergone retrofitting and refurbishment worth P620 million.

The vessel was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Philippine Navy officer who distinguished himself in the Second World War. The ship is capable of conducting patrols for long periods of time and can withstand heavy weather and rough sea conditions.

The Alcaraz is the second warship acquired from the US, after the BRP Gregorio del Pilar that was commissioned in December 2011.