By HENRY EMPEÑO | February 24, 2026

SUBIC, Zambales — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed into the Philippine naval fleet the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20) and the fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) BRP Audrey Bañares (PG-910) in a christening and commissioning ceremony at the Naval Operating Base here on Tuesday, February 24.

The ceremony, led by AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo S Brawner Jr. and Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy, marked another milestone in the military’s ongoing modernization program to secure the country’s vast archipelagic waters, coastlines, and economic zones.

The BRP Rajah Sulayman is the first six OPVs contracted from South Korean shipbuilder, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), while the BRP Audrey Bañares is the last of the nine FAICs acquired from Israeli Shipyards Limited.

BRP Rajah Sulayman was named after the pre-Hispanic ruler who led Tagalog forces during the 1570 Battle of Manila, while BRP Audrey Bañares honors Jose Audrey Bañares, a Navy commando who was killed off Zamboanga City in September 2013 following a sea battle with Moro National Liberation Front extremists.

The AFP said that integrating these vessels into the active fleet would ensure a more formidable presence in both littoral and deep-sea operations.

In his keynote address, Gen. Brawner underscored that the AFP’s modernization efforts are anchored on responsibility and peace.

“Let me be clear: modernization is not a signal of aggression. It is a statement of responsibility,” Brawner said. “A credible defense posture deters conflict. Preparedness prevents miscalculation. Capability preserves peace,” he added.

BRP Rajah Sulayman is the first vessel among six OPVs worth around P30 billion ordered by the Philippine Navy in 2022.

The POVs are equipped with an acoustic detection system for anti-submarine operations and feature dedicated spaces for various mission modules to enable effective deployment across a wide range of operating environments, including maritime surveillance, maritime security missions, and military operations.

HD Hyundai also provided a pre-delivery training program to support the Philippine Navy in operating the ship safely immediately upon delivery.

Meanwhile, the nine FAICs, also known as the Acero-class gunboats, were ordered in February 2021 with a price tag of P10 billion.

These ships are expected to replace PN’s medium-sized patrol craft and help protect Philippine littoral waters. 