On board the BRP Humabon

By DJ Sta. Ana

Philippine Star, Thursday, June 23, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The BRP Rajah Humabon (PF–11) is the Philippine Navy’s flagship and its 60 crew members believe they are the strongest expression of Philippine sovereignty even as they acknowledge they may prove no match to other navies, especially that of China.

Though the Rajah Humabon is antiquated and lightly armed, its sailors – whose average age is in the 30s – make up for it through dedication to their duty of protecting Philippine maritime territory.

The Rajah Humabon has been in service for nearly 68 years. This means the ship is as old as the fathers of most of the crew.

News5 junior correspondent Mia Reyes was one of the journalists who went with the Rajah Humabon on a three-day patrol to the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine Navy had ordered the Rajah Humabon to the area following reports that foreign ships were seen in the area well within Philippine waters.

According to Philippine and US Navy records, the Rajah Humabon is the largest but oldest Philippine Navy warship. It was commissioned in August 1943 as the USS Atherton, a Cannon–class destroyer. As the Atherton (DE–169), it was sent to the North Atlantic, assigned to anti–submarine patrol and was credited with the sinking of a German U-boat in 1945. She was later transferred to the Pacific where she continued to serve until she was decommissioned in 1945.

In 1955, the Atherton was handed over to the newly formed Japanese Maritime Self–Defense Force and renamed the JDS Hatsushi (DE–263). The Hatsushi was retired in 1975.

The Atherton/Hatsushi was then turned over to the Philippines in 1978 but first underwent extensive refurbishment in South Korea. The Philippine Navy commissioned the ship in 1980 as the BRP Rajah Humabon. The ship, along with two other frigates, served as the backbone of the Philippine Navy. The Rajah Humabon was decommissioned in 1993 but was pulled back into service as the Philippine Navy lacked ships. She was re-commissioned in 1996.

According to Reyes, morale among the 60-man crew is high even as they acknowledge they may be no match to the warships of other navies, such as China.

From a naval base in San Fernando, La Union, it takes the Rajah Humabon some 18 hours to reach Scarborough Shoal, located over 200 kilometers west of Luzon. Scarborough Shoal is claimed by the Philippines due to proximity although China is known to have sent patrol ships to the area.

Capt. Celeste Abalayan, Rajah Humabon’s commanding officer, admits they did encounter a Chinese maritime patrol ship some months back well within Philippine waters. Abalayan said the encounter was “friendly” and that the Chinese ship “was just representing China.” For this recent sortie in early June, he said the Rajah Humabon was given the mission to check the presence of foreign vessels in Scarborough Shoal.

Three outriggers

The Philippines and China previously had an “encounter” in Scarborough Shoal when Beijing placed markers.

In this inspection, Abalayan said they found no foreign ships – only three outrigger boats operated by Filipino fishermen. He did admit they have had 87 reported incursions by foreign vessels, although he did not say within what time frame.

When asked what actions they would take if they find a foreign vessel in Philippine waters, Abalayan said: “We usually monitor their movements and if there are some illegal activities, we shoo them away.”

Although it was given a rated top speed of 60 knots, the Rajah Humabon could only manage 10 knots in its patrol due to the age of its engines. And the age is not only evident in its engines, but also throughout the ship’s superstructure.

Reyes recounted that rainwater would seep into the rusted parts of the ships – with the crew doing their best to counter the leaks either with rags stuffed into the gaps or pails to catch the water. The Rajah Humabon has Spartan accommodations but at least it is comfortable, as it has air-conditioning and sleeping areas.

In its wardroom, a portrait of Rajah Humabon is displayed. As for meals, crewmembers bring along their own favorite viands to augment the “spartan” meals served by the ship’s cook. Reyes said it is just one way to add variety to their shipboard meals, which usually consist of seafood.

As for entertainment, Reyes said crewmen cope with the long trips with karaoke and DVD – with crewmembers sharing their own collection. Another source of entertainment are cellphones, where the crewmen play songs.

The Rajah Humabon is armed with a combination of 40 mm and 20 mm cannons as well as .50 caliber machineguns, but when racked up against other Asian navies, the ship is a lightweight when it comes to armaments.

The ship’s executive officer, Commander Oscar Canlas, pointed out they are capable of fulfilling their mission although he admits that having more equipment and capability wouldn’t hurt. “For me, we are trying to provide the necessary requirements to accomplish the mission.”

“Since andun kami, based on our equipment, nagagawa naman yung mission pero maganda kung ma-enhance ito (Since we’re there, based on our equipment we can accomplish the mission but it would be better if there’s an upgrade),” he added.

Among the enhancements they wish for the Rajah Humabon are: Updating its combat information center, its communications center and weapons, which date back to World War 2.

Canlas pointed out one immediate improvement they need is satellite and video capability which allows them to feed real time video back to Navy headquarters, even Malacañang.

“They can really visualize kung ano talagang nakikita namin sa area kung saan kami ma-deploy (They can really visualize what we see in the area where we are deployed),” Canlas explained. “Mas maganda if you can see para ma appreciate nung leadership yung situation sa lugar (Better if the leadership can actually see the situation).”

Canlas cited the importance of the Philippine Navy to continuously patrol the area, not only Scarborough Shoal but the Spratlys. He pointed out countries have been demonstrating their presence in order to solidify their claim on the area – even if these are well within Philippine waters.

He likened these activities to that of squatters or illegal tenants, who just stay there until, over time, you get used to them being there.

“To patrol these areas and make sure nothing is developed and we are trying to show our vessels to let people know we can cover this area,” Canlas stressed.

Canlas put it simply: Presence is everything.

“When you want to occupy something, you have to show presence – mere presence shows interest,” Canlas said.

“Anytime I will be directed to come back, we will come here. If I need to come back, I will come back,” Captain Abalayan vowed.

philstar.com

Rajah Humabon to stay within Philippine borders

By AFP

Manila Times, Monday, June 20,2011

The chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday assured that the country’s naval flagship would not go beyond the country’s 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, or EEZ, as it prepares to deploy near disputed islands and surrounding waters in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Despite apparent muscle-flexing by claimant-countries to the contested areas, Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said that he remained optimistic that the territorial dispute would be solved peacefully and avoid a potential armed confrontation.

“We hope it will not reach that point,” Oban told reporters when asked if sending the Philippine Navy flagship Rajah Humabon to the West Philippine Sea could stoke clashes.

He said that the flagship would be confined to its maritime boundaries and would not stray into international waters.

“I am optimistic that whatever conflicts may arise there will be settled peacefully and diplomatically, although what I am saying is that we will have to [also] enforce maritime laws within our 200-nautical mile [exclusive economic] zone,” Oban added.

Manila said that it would deploy the Rajah Humabon to the West Philippine Sea on Friday, a day after China announced that one of its maritime patrol vessels was also scheduled to pass through the area.

Both countries, as well as Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam have competing claims to potentially resource-rich areas in the disputed territories and surrounding waters, particularly Spratly Islands.

China claims the entire South China Sea as its historical fishing grounds, but the Philippines argues that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea states that a country has exclusive economic rights over waters that fall within 200 nautical miles of its continental shelf.

The Philippines’ zone overlaps in some places with those of claims by the other claimants to the Spratlys.

Commissioned in the Philippine Navy in 1980, the Rajah Humabon was a former US Navy frigate that served during World War II and is one of the world’s oldest warships.

Tensions in the long-running dispute over the area flared in recent months on allegations by the Philippines and Vietnam that China has become increasingly aggressive in staking its territorial claims.

The Philippines accused China this month of sending naval vessels to intimidate rival claimants around the Spratly Islands, as well as of installing buoys and posts in nearby areas.

Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario met with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) also on Sunday and called on them to have a common stand against China over the overlapping claims.

Asean groups the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar., Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Hanoi’s cause was pushed further forward also on Sunday by up to 100 Vietnamese who rallied outside the Chinese Embassy in the Vietnamese capital for the third weekend in a row over the escalating maritime row with Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.

The group sang patriotic songs, chanted and carried signs such as “China stop violating the territorial waters of Vietnam,” referring to the dispute over the sovereignty of two archipelagos—Paracel and Spratlys—in the South China Sea.

“The East Sea is not the village pond of China. I come here to show my patriotism,” said one protester, who asked not to be named, using the Vietnamese name for the sea.

Demonstrations are not common in authoritarian Vietnam, where small land-rights rallies are tolerated but advocates of other political causes risk arrest, yet anti-China sentiment recently brought people to the streets.

Police at Sunday’s rally, who outnumbered the crowd, noted their patriotism but told them through loudhailers, “Your gathering here may complicate the situation, influencing diplomatic relations between the two countries.”

The United States and Vietnam also on Friday jointly called for freedom of navigation and rejected the use of force in the sea.

After talks in Washington, the former war foes said that “the maintenance of peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is in the common interests of the international community.”

manilatimes.net

Flagship ng Phl Navy, tutungo ng Scarborough

By Bombo Radyo ng Pilipinas, Friday, June 17, 2011

LA UNION – Sa kabila ng namumuong tensyon sa Spratly Islands, magsasagawa ngayong araw ng pagpapatrolya sa Scarborough Shoal ang Philippine Navy gamit ang flagship at pinakamalaking warship na BRP Rajah Humabon.

Sa panayam ng Bombo Radyo La Union kay Commander Celestino Abalayan, sinabi nito na magtutungo ang kanyang hukbo sa Scarborough upang malaman ang kalagayan ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas at nais rin nilang maipakita sa mga karatig-bansa na nagsasagawa rin ang mga ito ng territorial defense operations.

Sa kasalukuyan ay nasa Poro Point, lungsod ng San Fernando, La Union ang BRP Rajah Humabon at anumang oras mamayang hapon ay magtutungo na ito sa naturang isla.

Mananatili umano doon ng dalawa hanggang tatlong oras ang nasabing barko upang mag-obserba para sa seguridad ng bansa at pagkatapos ay muli itong babalik sa Naval Base Cavite.

Nilinaw ni Abalayan na ang kanilang pagbisita sa Scarborough Shoal ay walang kinalaman sa isyu sa Spratly Islands at bahagi lang ito ng kanilang routine patrol sa West Philippine Sea.

Ang Scarborough Shoal ay matagpuan sa West Philippine Sea, 198 kilometer mula sa kanluran ng Subic Bay at may lawak itong 150 square kilometers.

Maliban sa Pilipinas ay inaangkin din ng bansang China ang Scarborough Shoal kung saan pinaniniwalaang sagana sa mga yamang-dagat ang lugar.

bomboradyo.com

Biggest Phl warship on patrol in Spratlys

By Jun Elias

Philippine Star, Friday, June 17, 2011

SAN FERNANDO, La Union, Philippines – The Philippine Navy is sending its biggest warship BRP Rajah Humabon for patrol operations around Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

The deployment of the Humabon came after China dispatched its largest maritime patrol ship into the area in a move likely to raise tensions with neighbors staking rival claims to waters believed to hold vast reserves of oil and gas.

Chinese state media reports yesterday said the Haixun-31 left Wednesday and will stay in Singapore for two weeks of exchanges on search and rescue, anti-piracy and port management operations.

The ship is passing the Paracel and Spratly island groups at the heart of disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines and other nation claimants around the region.

The Chinese media reports appeared to stress the deployment of its biggest patrol ship in the region.

“Our country’s biggest maritime patrol ship patrols the South China Sea,” said the headline in the official Beijing Daily.

Such type of ships has been accused of harassing foreign shipping in the South China Sea, including a US Navy surveillance vessel.

Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama gave assurance that no provocative actions would be made in the West Philippine Sea.

China, Vietnam and the Philippines have traded diplomatic barbs recently over maritime claims to the resource-rich island groups. Vietnam’s navy conducted live fire exercises on Monday after accusing Chinese boats of disrupting oil and gas exploration in its waters.

He said the Navy would implement pro-active defense measures all within its territorial waters in the area.

The Humabon, which has 68 crewmembers and eight officers, was docked Thursday at the Poro Point seaport here before sailing to the Scarborough Shoal.

“We will observe and check if there are security threats in the area and also to inspect if there are illegal poachers taking advantage in our jurisdiction,” said the ship’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Celestino Abalayan.

Abalayan was quick to clarify that their mission has nothing to do with the issue on the Spratlys. He said they were just on routine patrol.

Scarborough Shoal is situated in the West Philippine Sea, 198 kilometers west of Subic Bay with an estimated area of 150 square kilometers. The Shoal, which is rich in maritime resources, is also being claimed by China.

Pama also said the Navy, along with other military units committed to secure the country’s territorial waters in Palawan, will maintain its presence within the Kalayaan Island Group, part of the island group of the Spratlys occupied by the Philippines.

“We will strictly adhere to our rules of engagement and if a shooting war breaks out (among contending forces in the Spratlys) in the area, it will not start or come from us first,” Pama said.

Pama though stressed the mandate of the troops to stand down against possible armed hostilities.

“We are not to going start (the shooting) but it is also within our right to defend ourselves. We could not just scamper away or simply watch them (foreign forces) shooting at us,” Pama said.

Pama brushed aside suggestions that the Philippine Navy should also take an aggressive stance and take the cue from Vietnam conducting live fire exercises in the region.

“We are doing our own. We have our own strategy. We have our own (military) plan,” Pama said but declined to elaborate.

The Philippine Navy has taken the aggressive measure of dismantling the markers presumably placed by China on some of the islands and reefs that are within the country’s territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea.

Pama said removal of the markers would continue with the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard.

“We are doing these operations if only to emphasize that these markers are within the country’s exclusive economic zone,” Pama said.

philstar.com

Phl gunship dispatched to Spraty Islands

Phil star with PNA, Thursday, June 16, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine Navy gunship was dispatched today to Spratly Islands to monitor the latest developments in the disputed territory.

Defense Undersecretary Eduardo Batac said BRP Rajah Humabon will also check the removal of foreign markers on the reefs and banks in the disputed islands near Palawan.

The official did not says what are the other specific instructions of the Philippine Navy to the gunship, which is the largest capital warship of the Philippine Navy.

The BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11) is the last Destroyer Escort/Frigate in its fleet, and considered as one of the oldest active ships of the fleet, and in the world. She is one of three ex-USN Cannon-class destroyer escorts that served the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5/PS-77) and BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76).

The Philippine gunship was sent to the disputed territory after United States Ambassador to Manila Harry Thomas assured that it will support the Philippines on its territorial dispute with China.

Malacañang has recently announced that it may invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty with the US to help ease tension in the disputed island, which was caused by the alleged incursions by Chinese naval forces.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay yesterday said that foreign markers or wooden posts were removed from Reed Bank, Boxall Reef in the Spratly Islands, and in the nearby Amy Douglas Bank.

Tonsay said that the posts were removed last month, before the Philippines formally protested the alleged incursions by Chinese navy in its territorial waters.

“They were foreign markers because they were not installed by our military or our government. So we dismantled them because they are part of Philippine territory,” he said.

The Philippines had accused China of putting posts and a buoy in Philippine-claimed waters, but Tonsay said the Navy had not been able to determine who placed the wooden posts that it removed in May.

He said that the markers had no "Made in China" labels and oly had numbers on them.

Phil Star