Took part at the actions against Insurgents. After war Spanish planned returned gunboat to Spain, but this plan was too expensive and very doubtful. On the February 1900 sold to Americans, and left out from fleet lists. Come to American fleet on 5.03.1900. Took part on war against Philippine insurgents. Sunk as target on 1933.

The vessel had one shaft with a triple expansion engine. Her armament consisted of  2 x 25mm/42cal RF guns. She had a complement of  37 men.

The vessel was sent to the Philippines (probably to Panay) in 1896 and was used against the Filipino Insurgents. After the Spanish American War, Spain planned to return her to Spain, but this proved to be costly endeavor, and with somewhat doubtful chance of success. In February of 1900, she was sold to the U.S., and dropped from the Spanish rolls. The vessel joined the American fleet on June 3, 1900, and took part in the Philippine-American War. She was sunk as a target in 1933.

The vessel was named for Ruy Lopez de la Villalobos, the Spanish navigator, who explored the Bonin isles on 1543. He named the Philippines by calling them Real Filippe or "King Filippe's Islands."