Oriental Mindoro First District Representative Arnan Panaligan attended the commissioning of guided missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG 06) alongside President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday (May 20, 2025), expressing congressional support for the Philippine Navy’s modernization program.

The ceremony at Naval Operating Base Subic formed part of celebrations for the Philippine Navy’s 127th anniversary, which dates back to 1898 during the revolutionary period against Spanish colonial rule.

“This vessel represents a critical asset for protecting our sovereignty,” Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. declared at the commissioning event, where Panaligan represented legislative backing for maritime defense measures.

The BRP Miguel Malvar, equipped with advanced missile systems and surveillance technology, will join naval patrols in strategic areas including the disputed West Philippine Sea, where tensions with China have intensified in recent years over overlapping maritime claims.

Panaligan, who attended at the invitation of Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, described the frigate commissioning as evidence of strengthening ties between legislative and military institutions.

“This ceremony demonstrates our unified commitment across government branches to modernize our naval capabilities,” Panaligan was quoted as saying in media reports, adding that his presence reflected congressional support for increased defence funding allocations.

The vessel honors revolutionary hero General Miguel Malvar, who led Filipino forces against American occupation in the early 1900s after the Spanish-American War.

The Philippine Navy eyes to acquire additional modern vessels by 2028 as part of a defence modernization program, which analysts see as a response to China’s expanding military presence in the South China Sea.

Military officials declined to disclose the exact specifications and armament capabilities of the new frigate.

Photos: courtesy of Rep. Arnan Panaligan’s Page