No way six frigates are enough to watch over our seas, let alone engage the larger and more heavily armed ships of rival claimants, backed by submarines, warplanes and missiles. And while warplanes with cruise missiles can sink ships while out of range of their defenses, enemy aircraft would have difficulty even finding rocket batteries concealed in vegetation. Next: anti-ship missiles (ASMs). In 2013, the Philippine Army was reportedly planning to buy long-range missiles, which could also target ships. There is no reason why marine patrol aircraft and anti-ship missiles securing our seas should not be part of PN assets, along with frigates.

Source: Manila Times February 28, 2018 16:18 UTC