BRP Gregorio del Pilar, naialis na sa pagkakasadsad sa mababaw na bahagi ng Hasa-Hasa Shoal malapit sa Palawan. Hihilahin ang barko patungong Subic port para kumpunihin (📸 AFP-PAO) @DZMMTeleRadyo pic.twitter.com/bJF6G96ZmM

— Zhander Cayabyab (@zhandercayabyab) September 4, 2018

MANILA - The Philippine Navy's flagship frigate, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, has been pulled out from the shallow part of the West Philippine Sea where it ran aground last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Tuesday.

AFP Spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo said BRP Gregorio del Pilar was pulled out from the Hasa-Hasa shoal on Monday night after around 9 hours of operations. The Philippine Navy frigate will be towed from the Hasa-Hasa shoal to the Subic Port.

Initial report from the Western Command said the Philippine Navy frigate was patrolling the Ulugan Bay in Palawan when it ran aground the shoal, which is part of the disputed Spratly Islands. An investigation is ongoing.

BRP Gregorio del Pilar was a former United States Coast Guard cutter before it was turned over to the Philippines in 2011.--report from Zhander Cayabyab, ABS-CBN News