Philippines Navy BRP Ladislao Diwa Commissioned

The Philippine Navy commissioned BRP Ladislao Diwa (PS-178), formerly the US Navy Cyclone-class patrol ship USS Chinook (PC-9), on 11 September 2023 at its headquarters in Manila, Naval News reported. The Defense Post said the Philippines accepted the ship and sister ship Valentin Diaz in Bahrain in March 2023 through the US Excess Defense Articles program, after almost 30 years of US service. With BRP General Mariano Alvarez, the three Cyclone-class ships form the Alvarez class and serve with the Littoral Combat Force on coastal patrol and interdiction.