Military execs fly to US for turnover of Philippines' second warship

MANILA -- Officials of the Armed Forces Philippines flew to the United States for the ceremonial turnover of the country's second warship from the US Coast Guard.

AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos said AFP chief of staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa and Philippine fleet commander Rear Admiral Jose Luis Alano flew to Charleston, South Carolina to formally receive the USCGC Dallas, a Hamilton-class cutter that was commissioned by the Philippines to serve as its second warship following the BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

The "Dallas" will be christened the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, named after World War II hero Alcaraz, a naval officer who skippered the torpedo boat “Abra” that was among the first to engage Japanese forces during the war.

Burgos, however, clarified that it will only be a ceremonial turnover as the actual physical turnover of the warship will occur "by the end of the year." The skipper and crew of BRP Alcaraz will also undergo training in the US.

Burgos said the arrival of the BRP Alcaraz is seen to boost the country's military capability to aid the BRP del Pilar.

"This will boost our capability in protecting our marine resources and will complement the BRP del Pilar," Burgos said.

The USCGC Dallas is a high-endurance, Hamilton-class cutter that was commissioned by the US in 1967. It was decommissioned by the US in March 30 to be transferred to the Philippines. In her early years, the "Dallas" served as an "ocean station" that collected meteorological and oceanographic data in the Atlantic Ocean. She was also deployed in Vietnam, serving in combat patrol operations.-Interaksyon (May 21, 2012)