She was an ex-United States Navy Auk-class minesweeper that was produced during World War II, and was classified as a patrol corvette protecting the vast waters of the Philippines.

USS Murrelet (AM-372) was commissioned with the US Navy in 1945, her duty was to sweep mines along the Japanese and Korean waters from January to April 1946.

She arrived Yokosuka, Japan, in August 1951 to aid United Nations forces opposing Communist aggression.

Departing Yokosuka 21 August, she sailed to Korea, participating in operations north of Wonsan, in the Hungnam, Songjin, and Chongjin areas.

She continued sweeping and patrol duties off Korea in 1952, capturing and destroying several enemy sampans, until July, when she returned to the west coast.

[9] Rizal was also part of the Philippine Navy contingent that joined Exercise SEAGULL 03–07, which was held in Brunei from September 2 to 10, 2007.

[2] This incident sparked a diplomatic protest by the Chinese government since they are claiming that the PN ship collided with the fishing boat "on-purpose".

On 19 June 2009 Rizal took part in the rescue of Indonesian-registered tugboat MT Benoa with 10 people on board, and towed the distressed boat to San Fernando City pier.

The Chinese boat retreated and left behind the 25 sampans, which the Rizal towed back to Ulugan Bay in Palawan.

[15] She underwent completed a rehabilitation overhaul in 1995, by Hatch & Kirk, wherein she was fitted with two remanufactured GM EMD 16V-645C diesel engines with a combined power of around 5,800 bhp (4,300 kW) driving two propellers.