2 Navy ships from Benham Rise dock at Poro Point

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 30): 2 Navy ships from Benham Rise dock at Poro Point

Two large Navy war ships docked at Poro Point pier Thursday after conducting patrols at Benham Rise for several days to check on the presence of Chinese vessels in the area.

The two are BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16), PN frigate, and BRP Sultan Kudarat (PS-22).

“We are here to fill-up our logistic requirements like fuel, food, and others, and are standing by for new directives from our main headquarters," said Commander Jeff Rene S. Nadugo, commanding officer of the BRP Ramon.

We are going back to Benham Rise," Nadugo assured.

He added they are taking their requirements from the Naval Forces of Nothern Luzon at Poro Point in San Fernando City.

He also said it is good and important that Philippine Navy vessels were there at Benham Rise on patrol for the foreigners "to know that the area is our territory".

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier reported that the Navy’s sole oceanographic and hydrographic survey ship was conducting surveying and mapping on the 13-million hectare Benham Rise, a seismically active undersea region and extinct volcanic ridge located in the Philippine Sea approximately 250 kilometers or 160 miles east of the northern coastline of Dinapigue, Isabela.

Meanwhile, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz is open for public viewing on Saturday and Sunday.

Nasugo said that as part of the Navy's program is to showcase the new warship to the Filipino people.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=976545