PHL Navy receives, commissions newest warship from South Korea

The Philippine Navy (PN) on Monday received from South Korea its newest warship, a Pohang-class corvette which the PN commissioned the BRP Conrado Yap (PS39).

In a statement, the PN revealed that the Conrado Yap was handed over to the Philippines during a commissioning ceremony at the Jinhae Naval Base in South Korea.

During the ceremony PN Flag Officer in Command Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad assured the South Korean government that the ship's Filipino crew would make sure the vessel would "always be in shipshape condition and shall defend our country’s maritime waters with the same valor as displayed by our hero, Capt. Conrado Yap, 68 years ago.”

Philippine Army Captain Conrado Yap served in the Korean War as part of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea, and was considered the most decorated Filipino soldier during the Korean War.

The BRP Conrado Yap was the former Republic of Korea Navy ship Chungju, which served in the ROKN from 1987 to 2016.

PS39 will be commanded by Captain Marco Buena, and he and his crew will set sail for the Philippines this August.

The Yap, the PN's first-ever corvette, was expected to enhance the fleet’s Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities. — DVM, GMA News