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Slain Filipino seafarer unaware ship was headed to Hormuz strait — kin
Filipino seafarer Rodrigo "Rod" Favis was only a few days short of finishing his employment contract when he was killed in the Strait of Hormuz. Now, his family is demanding answers.
The 28-year-old Rod was one of two Filipino seafarers who were killed onboard the Sidr, a Saudi Arabian oil tanker that was attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz—the critical waterway at the center of the armed spat between the United States and Iran. The vessel was hit by unknown projectiles.
His brother, Ryan Favis, said it was not in Rod's contract to go to the Strait of Hormuz. Rod only found out about their destination when he was already onboard the vessel, after being told by fellow crew members. A separate statement from his family said the original route was only in Europe—not the Strait.
Rod was only able to tell his family where he was headed mere hours before the incident that claimed his life, according to Ryan.
"Sabi niya, 'Kuya, papasok kami sa Strait of Hormuz'… Bale 'yun na lang 'yung term na binitawan niya kasi pinapakalma niya 'yung kalooban niya pero ayaw niya talaga," Ryan told GMA News Online.
(He said, 'Brother, we are entering the Strait of Hormuz'... those were the only terms he was able to say because he was trying to calm himself, but he really did not want to go.)
"Wala po talaga sa kasunduan, wala po 'yan sa usapan," he added. (It was not in the agreement, it was not in the discussion.)
Ryan lamented the response from Jebsen PTC. Representatives from the agency had just gone straight to their house and asked them to sign a letter of acceptance, and to choose whether Rod should be buried or cremated.
"Wala pa nga kaming verified, na 100% na body ba niya talaga iyon, may DNA ba, ano bang itsura, wala, wala silang binibigay sa amin," Ryan said.
(We do not even have a verified, 100% that it is his body. If there is DNA, what does he look like? We did not get anything.)
Ryan said the family wants an investigation into the matter, and if needed, they will file a case.
GMA News Online has reached out to Jebsen PTC for a statement but it has yet to respond as of posting time.
Rod was deployed on August 6, with his contract only lasting one month. He had been excited to go home.
After all, his live-in partner was pregnant with his first child—a fact he learned three days before his death.
"Tuwang-tuwa siya kaya gusto na niya umuwi. Kaya feeling naming lahat sa church, milagro 'yun, kasi usually pag seaman, matagal exposure ng radiation, hindi na nagkaka-anak or bihirang bihira. Kaya nu'ng nalaman niya 'yun, tuwang-tuwa siya," Ryan said.
(He was so happy, he really wanted to go home. All of us in church felt like it was a miracle, because usually, when you are a seaman, you have prolonged exposure to radiation, you cannot have children or it is rare. So when he found out, he was really happy.)
His family was devastated. Ryan said they have had to keep watch over their mother, who was distraught after the news of Rod's death.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is already coordinating with them, Ryan said. The family will have another meeting with them soon at the main office. They are hoping for assistance to repatriate the remains.
"He's a good brother, 28-years-old pa lang, wala siyang bisyo, wala siyang anything… malungkot kami," Ryan said.
(He's a good brother, just 28-years-old, no vice, no nothing… we are mournful.)
Also on Thursday, Malacañang announced that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to provide necessary assistance to the bereaved family members of the two Filipino seafarers who were killed in the attack.
The DMW has repeatedly stated that it requires shipowners to conduct risk assessments before sailing, ensure adequate security protocols and reporting mechanisms, and recognize the right to refuse sailing of Filipino seafarers when vessels are bound for high-risk areas. — VDV, GMA News
