Defense of the Republic of the Philippines

MANILA -- Hopeful that ties between the Philippines and Israel flourish over the years, President Rodrigo R. Duterte told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Filipinos will continue to extend their help as they did when they received Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.

“We received the Israelis there and their families and I am sure that many of them have spread all throughout the country,” Duterte said in his speech during his meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday.

“Thank you and may we continue to be blessed with a strong relationship. I do not think that there will ever be a time when there is an irritation between our two countries,” he added.

Duterte said both the Philippines and Israel shares the passion for peace, for human beings, and the desire not to allow their countries to be destroyed by corrupt ideologies.

“In this sense, Israel can expect any help that the Philippines can extend to your country,” he said.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, said he was “deeply moved” by the Philippines’ show of humanity since former president Manuel Quezon allowed the entry of some 1,300 Jewish refugees to the country.

“We remember the exceptional role of the Philippines that received Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. We remember that the Philippines was the only Asian country that voted for the establishment of the State of Israel in the UN resolution in 1947,” Netanyahu said.

“I, like many, many Israeli families, have (been) deeply moved by this show of humanity,” he added.

Duterte and Netanyahu witnessed the signing of three agreements -- the Memorandum of Agreement on the Employment of Filipino Caregivers, Memorandum of Understanding on Scientific Cooperation, and Memorandum of Understanding between the Board of Investments and Invest in Israel.

Netanyahu described how Filipino caregivers have taken care of the Israeli elderly as a “remarkable phenomenon” as someone who has experienced it first-hand.

“I am one of those families, Mr. President. My late father died at the age of 102. In his later years, (he) received incredible care by a caregiver from the Philippines, a woman who has exceptional compassion and intelligence. She took care of my father’s every need. And when he passed away, she took care of his brother’s niece until he passed away,” the Israeli Prime Minister said.

“This is an exceptional agreement and I think heralds the kind of friendship that we are developing,” he added.

After their meeting, Duterte visited the the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Center as part of his four-day official visit in Israel.

The President expressed hope that a “horrific and benighted period of human history” would not happen again.

“I hope that this will not happen again. But we are a world whose — now... We have learned so much along the years during the two wars,” he said.

“There is always a lesson to be learned and that despots and leaders who show insanity should be — well they should be disposed of at the first instance,” he added. (PNA)

MANILA -- Philippine Navy (PN) flagship BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF-15) was successfully towed from Hasa-Hasa (international name Half-Moon) Shoal late Monday evening, an official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

"FF-15 (was) successfully retrieved at around 2354h (11:54 p.m.) 03 September. Undergoing final inspection before towing to Subic," AFP Public Affairs Office Chief Col. Noel Detoyato told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The frigate, which ran aground off Hasa-Hasa Shoal on August 29, will be dry docked for repairs in Subic.

AFP Spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said the retrieval operations for the frigate started 2 p.m. Monday. He also called the retrieval operations a "success".

"BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15) that ran aground in the shoal was successfully pulled out shortly before midnight of the same day," Arevalo said in a text message.

"Inspection was ongoing as of this time in preparation for the towing of the vessel to Subic," he added.

Assessment by Coast Guard and Navy divers over the weekend indicated that there were no hull punctures. However, the starboard propeller was detached from the shaft due to the grounding.

This was later recovered and found to be repairable. Tugs M/T Vigilant and M/T Trabajador, both owned by the Malayan Towage and Salvage Corporation, went to the area, along with the Coast Guard's BRP Sindangan and Navy's BRP Nestor Reinoso (PG-380) and landing ship BRP Benguet (LT-507).

The BRP Gregorio Del Pilar is one of three Hamilton-class cutters acquired from the United States Coard Guard and converted into frigates. (PNA)

MANILA -- Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) divers are now assessing the condition of the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF-15) which ran aground off Hasa-Hasa (international name Half-Moon) Shoal) on Wednesday.

This, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato in a message to the Philippine News Agency Saturday.

"May divers ang PCG from MRRV 4407 (BRP Sindangan) na tumutulong sa assessment ng condition ng pagkasadsad para maplano nang mabuti ang approach sa pag-retrieve (There are divers from PCG from MRRV 4407 who are now helping in the assessing the condition of the ship in order to properly plan the retrieval approach). So, while waiting for the tugboats and other PCG and Navy platforms to arrive, surface and underwater assessments are being done to come up with the right plan of retrieval," he added.

Also, an inter-agency task force, named Joint Task Force "Goyong", under the leadership of Commodore Rommel Galang, was activated.

The task force includes the PCG, Navy, and Air Force. Galang is the current commander of Naval Forces West, Detoyato said.

"Commodore Rommel Galang is the on-site commander. He was flown in by the PN's AugustaWestland AW-109 naval helicopter. He will manage, supervise and direct the retrieval operations. He was formerly assigned with the Naval Sea Systems Command," he said.

"He was flown in so that the captain of FF-15 (BRP Gregorio Del Pilar) can concentrate on the day-to-day operations of FF-15 and the safety and security of his ship," he added.

Initial reports indicated that the grounded frigate is recoverable, Detoyato said.

BRP Sindangan (MRRV 4407) arrived in the area 11 a.m. Friday and will be joined by the BRP Cabra (MRRV 4409) anytime soon to render any assistance needed that might be needed by the grounded BRP Gregorio Del Pilar especially should there be a need to remove non-essential personnel to lighten the ship.

BRP Nestor Reinoso (PG-380) is also on hand to provide help, he said.

Detoyato earlier said two tugboats left Batangas, one on Thursday and one on Friday, to help in the recovery operations.

The BRP Gregorio Del Pilar is one of three Hamilton-class cutters acquired by the PN from the United States Coard Guard and converted into frigates. These ships have a gross tonnage of 3,250 tons, a length of 378 feet, beam of 43 feet, and draft of 15 feet while its propulsion systems consist of two diesel engines and two gas turbine engines, giving it a top speed of 29 knots.

They have a cruising range of 14,000 miles and has a sea and loiter time of 45 days and armed with a 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon, 25mm and 20mm light cannons and .50 caliber machineguns. (PNA)