Philippines formally acquires US Hamilton-class cutter

Hamilton Class (Wikipedia)

The Philippines formally acquired last week a Hamilton-class cutter from the United States following turnover ceremonies in California last May 13.

Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. formally accepted the transfer of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cutter in Alameda, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

"The cutter will officially become the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, with Captain Alberto Cruz at the helm. He is part of a group of eight officers and 13 enlisted personnel from the Philippine Navy, who are currently undergoing training with the (US Coast Guard)," the DFA said in a news release posted on its website Wednesday.

The Hamilton class cutter was the largest class of vessel in the US Coast Guard until replaced by the National Security Cutter.

With Cuisia at the ceremony were San Francisco Consul General Marciano Paynor Jr., Captain Antonio Habulan of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., and Colonel Edwin Erni of the Philippine National Police Office in San Francisco.

Vice Admiral Manson Brown, Commander of the US Coast Guard Pacific Area and Defense Force West, signed the transfer documents for the US government.

Cuisia noted the success of the project is an indication of the robust Philippine-US partnership and serves as an expression of the US' commitment to help the Philippines protect its maritime domain.

The US Coast Guard is an important component in Philippine-US defense and security cooperation, the DFA said.

Earlier, the Philippine Navy had acquired other vessels from the US Coast Guard, including two 82-foot patrol boats, the USCG Point Evans and USCG Point Doran, whose transfers were effected in December 1999 and March 2001, respectively.

Also, the US international cadet program benefits students from the Philippines who train and interact with other students at the US Coast Guard Academy located in New London, Connecticut.

Gmanews