Navy welcomes prospectiveoffshore patrol vesselBRP Rajah Lakandula

May 12, 2026May 12, 2026 Vic Vizcocho 0 Comments

WELCOME RITES. The prospective offshore patrol vessel, BRP Rajah Lakandula, during the May 8, 2026 arrival ceremony in Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales. The vessel, set to be formally commissioned at a later date, signifies another milestone in the Navy’s ongoing capability development efforts. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Navy)

MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) announced the conduct of arrival ceremonies for the prospective offshore patrol vessel (OPV), BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS-21), at the Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales on Friday.
PN public affairs office chief Capt. Marie Angelica DC Sisican said in a statement on Saturday that the ship arrived in the country on May 4.
The prospective BRP Rajah Lakandula is the sister ship of the BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20), which was commissioned into service in February.
The BRP Rajah Sulayman is the first of the six OPVs ordered from South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, at a cost of about PHP30 billion. These ships measure 94.4 meters long and 14.3 meters wide, with a displacement of 2,400 tons, a maximum speed of 22 knots, a cruising speed of 15 knots, and a range of 5,500 nautical miles.
Sisican said Philippine Military Academy Superintendent, Vice Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia, served as the keynote speaker for the arrival ceremonies.
Also present during the ceremony was PN chief Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta and Philippine Fleet commander Rear Admiral Joe Anthony Orbe.
The vessel, set to be formally commissioned at a later date, signifies another milestone in the Navy’s ongoing capability development efforts.
“When this ship sails, the spirit of Rajah Lakandula sails with it – steadfast, wise, and unyielding. We are telling the world that we are a peace-loving nation. Our resolve to protect what is ours is as deep as the trenches of the Philippines,” Valencia said as he highlighted the significance of the vessel’s arrival and its namesake, Rajah Lakandula, the pre-colonial ruler of Tondo and a symbol of courage and leadership in Philippine history.
The arrival of the future BRP Rajah Lakandula underscores the Philippine Navy’s commitment to enhancing maritime security operations and maintaining a credible naval presence.
“With the addition of this asset, the PN continues to strengthen its ability to safeguard the nation’s maritime domain and support national security objectives,” Sisican said. (PNA)