The Philippine Navy (PN) guided-missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) sustained damage during a recent overseas activity but remains in good condition and operational, an official said.

In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, PN spokesperson Capt. Marissa Arlene Martinez described the damage, sustained Aug. 27 while the ship was taking part in a naval exercise in Malaysia, as “superficial.”

“When she (BRP Antonio Luna) was carefully maneuvering in a narrow space, and I would like to highlight a narrow space, it incurred superficial damage to its freeboard,” she said.

A freeboard refers to the distance between the waterline and the ship’s main deck.

BRP Antonio Luna was among the participants in the maritime training activity “MALPHI LAUT 2025” of the PN and the Royal Malaysian Navy on Aug. 27 to 29.

Martinez said despite the damage, BRP Antonio Luna participated in all activities.

“In fact, it is on its way home and I also would like to highlight that the people there are professional, they are very highly competent and the CO (commanding officer) himself is a seasoned surface warfare officer,” she said.

The BRP Antonio Luna was the second guided-missile frigate of the PN, the first being BRP Jose Rizal (FFG-150). It was delivered and commissioned in 2021, a year after BRP Jose Rizal was put into service.

The two ships are worth PHP16 billion and considered as the first PN naval vessels capable of anti-air, anti-ship, anti-submarine and electronic warfare operation