Navy retires BRP Cebu after 71 years of service

October 4, 2019

The oldest fighting ship of the Philippine Navy (PN) was retired after 71 years of service in a ceremony in Cavite City last Tuesday, a military spokesman said Friday.

Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, acting director of the Navy public affairs office, said the decommissioning ceremony for BRP Cebu was held at Captain Salvo Pier, Naval Base Cavite.

Roxas said the ceremony was presided by Philippine Fleet, Rear Adm. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo. 

In his remarks, Bacordo expressed sadness in “her decommissioning, but we are happy because of her decommissioning we will be able to accommodate newer platforms for the Philippine Navy.” 

Roxas said Bacordo concluded the ceremony by underscoring  the importance of resting older ships to give way for new platforms as the PN continues pursuing modernization. 

She said PS28 has "rendered 71 years of credible service to the PN and our maritime nation."

"BRP Cebu was a patrol ship of the Philippine Navy originally built as USS PCE-881, a warship for the United States Navy during World War II," she said.

"It was transferred to the PN in July 1948 and renamed as RPS Cebu after the Philippine province of the same name. BRP Cebu, along with other World War II-ERA ships of the PN, was considered as among the oldest active fighting ships in the world today," she added.

Roxas recalled the notable accomplishment of BRP Cebu during its service to the Philippine Navy.

"Its notable accomplishment was the conduct of search and rescue operations to the MV Princess of the Stars of Sulpicio Lines, which capsized off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon at the height of typhoon Frank on June 22, 2008," she said. Robina Asido/DMS