Marilyn Cahatol

The Philippine Navy on Friday decommissioned the BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Magat Salamat, among world’s oldest warships, as the country transitions to a modern fleet. Michael Delizo, ABS-CBN News

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Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:732px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17459051018271745905101197.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Philippine Navy on Friday decommissioned the BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Magat Salamat, among world’s oldest warships, as the country transitions to a modern fleet. Michael Delizo, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The decommissioned World War II corvette BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) will be targeted and sunk in this year’s Balikatan exercises.</p><p>The BRP Miguel Malvar was built in 1944 as the USS Brattleboro, a PCE(R)-848-class rescue patrol craft of the United States Navy.</p><p>It was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Navy in 1966, where it served as RVNS Ngoc Hoi (HQ-12).</p><p>After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the ship was acquired by the Philippine Navy and commissioned as the BRP Miguel Malvar. It served as the lead ship of the Malvar-class corvettes until its decommissioning in 2021.</p><p>Philippine Navy spokesperson Captain John Percie Alcos was the last commanding officer of the old BRP Miguel Malvar.</p><p>“There’s a lot of history behind the BRP Miguel Malvar. BRP Miguel Malvar produced more than 20 Flag Officers, to include several flag officers in command and a commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard,” Alcos told reporters in a chance interview in Manila.</p><p>The old naval vessel was deployed to major assignments, such as the Whitsun Reef incident—where some 200 Chinese vessels, including some believed to be maritime militia, moored around the reef in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in March 2021.</p><p>“BRP Miguel Malvar, during her last few months in the service, was deployed in Naval Forces Western Mindanao, fighting and conducting operations against southern secessionists, specifically in Jolo and Tawi-Tawi, after which was the Whitsun Reef incident in 2021. Despite her age, she was directed to conduct naval operations in the West Philippine Sea together with BRP Jose Rizal and other Del Pilar-class patrol vessels,” Alcos said.</p><p>“Before decommissioning, she was directed to report to the Naval Forces Southern Luzon. She was tasked to conduct naval operations against communist terrorist groups.”</p><p>The ex-BRP Miguel Malvar remains to be the Philippine Navy’s most decorated ship, according to Alcos.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/12/10/21/ph-navy-decommissions-2-longest-serving-warships">PH Navy decommissions 2 longest-serving warships</a></div><p>Although admittedly saddened by the World War II ship’s fate, Alcos said the sinking of the former BRP Miguel Malvar would be symbolic and would serve as a “new chapter” for the Philippine Navy.</p><p>“It will serve its purpose to showcase that we have transitioned from a legacy Navy into a modern Navy,” Alcos said.</p><p>“Lahat kami malungkot, but just like anything na progresibo, we have to let go of the past. That does not mean we have to forget the past, but we have to move on. We now have a modern Navy, so we have to embrace na moderno na ang ating Philippine Navy ngayon,” he added.</p><p>The maritime strike will be held in San Antonio, Zambales on May 5. The old naval vessel will be sunk by Filipino and American assets, including the Philippine Air Force’s FA-50 light combat aircraft, the Philippine Navy’s ships equipped with C-Star sea skimming surface-to-surface anti-ship cruise missile system, and the US Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets.</p><p>On April 8, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. led the arrival ceremony for the future BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), a brand-new guided missile corvette, at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales.</p><p>Teodoro had said that the arrival of the Philippine Navy’s newest ship is a critical step towards developing a self-reliant and credible defense posture.</p><p>This is the first of two corvettes acquired from South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/8/philippines-welcomes-new-guided-missile-warship-1658">Philippines welcomes new guided missile warship</a></div><p>The BRP Miguel Malvar’s sister ship, the BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), was launched on March 28 and is expected to be delivered to the Philippines by July.</p><p>“The BRP Miguel Malvar and her sister ship, the BRP Diego Silang, are state-of-the-art warships. We aim to achieve a certain level of a credible defense posture with the acquisition of these ships and hopefully, in the next few weeks, with the delivery of the OPVs and other platforms, we will finally achieve being a modern and credible Navy that our maritime nation can truly be proud of,” Alcos said.</p><p>“She [new BRP Miguel Malvar] will see action all over the Philippines. She will contribute to regional peace and stability,” he continued.</p><p>These vessels are equipped with capabilities to counter ships, submarines and aircraft.</p><p>The two ships will serve as backstops for the guided missile frigates BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151).</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/26/3-chinese-warships-seen-as-ph-us-conduct-drills-in-north-luzon-waters-1702#:~:text=MANILA%20%E2%80%94%20Three%20Chinese%20warships%20were%20spotted%20as,northwest%20of%20Bolinao%2C%20Pangasinan%2C%20on%20Saturday%2C%20April%2026.">3 Chinese warships seen as PH, US conduct drills in North Luzon waters</a></div><div><strong>PH, US STAGE 1ST AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE DRILLS</strong></div><p>Filipino and American soldiers on Sunday conducted the first-ever integrated air and missile defense drills in San Antonio, Zambales as part of this year’s Balikatan exercises.</p><p>The US Marine Corps deployed its Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) overseas for the first time.</p><p>“We just received the MADIS in December last year and we rapidly transitioned to get it out here for Balikatan,” Lt. Col. Matthew Sladek, commanding officer of the 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion of the USMC, told reporters in Zambales.</p><p>The MADIS is designed to defend against low-flying threats such as drones and unmanned aircraft systems.</p><p>“Everything we do during Balikatan is focused on peace and prosperity. We’re very interested in bolstering coastal defense. All of our scenarios are built around that—the integrity of the territory of the Philippines and no scenario is directed towards any adversary of any contingency in particular. It’s all focused on the freedom of the Indo-Pacific,” said First Lieutenant Annie Pontileria, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment public affairs officer.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/21/-shared-adversity-new-weapons-as-philippine-us-forces-launch-balikatan-1135">&#x27;Shared adversity&#x27;, new weapons as Philippine, US forces launch &#x27;Balikatan&#x27;</a></div><p>“Amphibious generally means it can move from sea to land, so assuming we have sealift, we can move the MADIS system from sea to land. That’s depending what transportation we have available to us from the combined and joint force,” she added.</p><p>Equipped with Stinger missiles, 30 mm cannons and 7.62 mm machine guns, the MADIS took down several drones simulating enemy forces.</p><p>The MADIS worked in tandem with the Philippine Air Force’s Spyder surface-to-air python and derby air defense system.</p><p>The Spyder is a medium range-capability that can strike hostile aircraft.</p><p>“Continuous collaboration and joint training with the US and other neighboring countries. It’s a big help for us together with high equipment because sooner or later, we will acquire the same system,” Major Elree Cardeno of the PAF’s 960th Air and Missile Defense Group said.</p><p>“There’s absolutely a complementary approach to this. MADIS is short-range; Spyder is medium-range. They both engage different threats, and the more they work together, it only seeks to enhance our collective ability,&quot; Sladek, for his part, added.</p><p>Aside from the MADIS, Filipino soldiers in San Antonio are also training with US marines on the Avenger air defense system.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i-qdX23L4-c?si=8M9fL6PwVmCnjoL4" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The decommissioned World War II corvette BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) will be targeted and sunk in this year’s Balikatan exercises.</p>

The decommissioned World War II corvette BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) will be targeted and sunk in this year’s Balikatan exercises.

Decommissioned WW2 corvette to be sunk in Balikatan 2025

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Decommissioned WW2 corvette to be sunk in Balikatan 2025

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 29, 2025 02:28 PM PHT

Read More:

BRP Miguel Malvar

Philippine Navy

maritime strike

sinking exercise

Balikatan

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