Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) — The Philippine Navy wants President Rodrigo Duterte to physically attend the commissioning of its first missile-capable frigate, but is considering other options due to pandemic restrictions.
In his weekly televised address late Monday, the President expressed his desire to personally inspect the South Korean-built warship slated to be christened BRP Jose Rizal.
“I read it one week ago na nandito na. I want to board just to see how good it is. Kindly arrange the time,” the President said.
The warship’s commissioning was initially planned last June 19, the birthday of the national hero and the ship’s namesake, Dr. Jose Rizal.
The Navy had to delay the schedule after one of the ship’s crew members tested positive after undergoing rapid antibody testing for COVID-19. This pushed back the timetable allotted for the defense department’s mandatory technical inspection process prior to accepting the delivery of the frigate.
The Navy is still awaiting word from Malacanang on the availability of the President’s schedule to set the new date for the ceremony.
But Philippine Navy Flag-Officer-In-Command Vice Admiral Giovanni Bacordo said they are aware of the President’s “comorbidities” and would not want to “unnecessarily expose” the country’s 75-year-old chief executive to infection by attending the activity.
The frigate is currently docked in Subic, Zambales.
“(But) if he will be present, we are ready (to observe) social distancing standards,” Bacordo told defense reporters. “We will invite only those who are needed to be there…no more than 50 personnel.”
President Duterte had previously spoken publicly about some of his health issues, including his recurring spine injury and Buerger’s disease. In an interview with CNN Philippines in November 2019, he said he was fit enough to continue carrying out his duties though his age was catching up with him.
Bacordo said another option is to have the President attend the ceremony virtually via video conferencing similar to his addresses during the joint graduation ceremonies of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), as well as the Independence Day commemoration last June 12.
