Robert Empedrad on Thursday said the government plans to purchase offshore patrol vessels and submarines, according to a Philippine News Agency report posted Saturday.
"I think there is a need to beef up the Philippine Navy because we have vast maritime and we need to protect it," he told reporters in Ulsan city, South Korea. Empedrad was in South Korea for the keel-laying ceremony for BRP Antonio Luna, the second missile frigate the country acquired after BRP Jose Rizal.Earlier this month, the Philippine Navy welcomed 2 new helicopters, which has the capability to "detect and destroy" submarines.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., meanwhile, said the Philippines will get a new imagery satellite in July as he stressed the need for new technology to protect the West Philippine Sea.
This is good news. But we should have done this decades ago, including acquisition of submarines. In fact, Bangladesh has three submarines in its fleet. We really dropped the ball big time for years...