Manila, Jan. 22 -- The country's new fleet of modern naval ships is expected to enhance the Philippine Navy's (PN) reach and patrol to protect the country's vast maritime domain, its spokesperson said on Thursday.

"With the addition of more ships, we will be able to extend the operational reach of the Navy across the maritime domain," PN spokesperson Captain Marissa Martinez told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) when asked about the benefits of acquiring newly-commissioned guided missile frigates, BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) and BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), along with the soon-to-be commissioned, offshore patrol vessel (OPV) BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20).

The guided missile frigates were commissioned, respectively, on May 20 and Dec. 2 of las...