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The family of 28-year-old Rodrigo Favis is demanding answers and a swift investigation following the death of the young Filipino seafarer, who was killed alongside a colleague when their crude oil tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz. Courtesy: JM Corteza via Bea Cuadra, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The family of 28-year-old Rodrigo Favis is demanding answers and a swift investigation following the death of the young Filipino seafarer, who was killed alongside a colleague when their crude oil tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz.
2 Filipino seafarers killed in oil tanker attack near Strait of Hormuz—DMW
Favis, the breadwinner of his family, had only been back at sea for less than a month after taking a brief one-month rest at home.
His mother, Rhea Corteza, 55, recalled receiving her last video call from him in the early morning of August 25.
"Sabi niya, ma, nandito ako sa delikadong lugar. Siguro mga isang buwan pa magtatagal kami dito. Yung nasabi, natakot po ako kasi bakit nandiyan kayo?" Corteza said.
Her fears materialized on the morning of September 2, when local officials and representatives from her son's manning agency arrived unannounced at their doorstep.
"May pumunta po dito sa bahay namin na naka-tricycle, may kasamang barangay po. Tapos may kasama po silang taga-agency po, hinahanap po yung bahay ni Rodrigo Favis. Eh, na tyempuhan lang po nandito ako. Sabi ko, dito po yun, tapos ako po yung mother niya," she recalled.
Corteza said the silent demeanor of the visitors immediately signaled bad news.
"Tapos pinapasok ko po sila dito, dito po kami nag-usap. Nagtataka ako, bakit po pumunta yung taga-agency? Eh, ang anak ko nasa barko. Pero kinakabahan na po ako noon kasi hindi po sila umiimik. Wala po sila nagsalita. As in wala po talaga. Pero pinakalma ko yung sarili ko tapos nung nasa loob na sila hindi pa rin silang nagsalita pero nararamdaman ko na talaga na may nangyari kasi bakit pupunta dito yung agency diba po," Corteza shared.
"Kasi sa tagal na nagbabarko yung anak ko, ngayon ko lang po nakita na may pumuntang taga-agency. Tapos sinabi po nila na wala na daw po yung anak ko. Na-confirm po nila raw, sinabi na po," she added.
Describing Favis as a hard-working, independent son who built his career without connections, Corteza expressed deep grief over the loss of the family's primary supporter.
"Pang-apat po siya, napakabait po niyan. Yung independent po siya sa sarili niya, kumikita siya sa sarili niya. Tapos siya lang po, nag-apply lang siya, palakad-lakad lang po siya… Siya lang po, wala po siyang backer. Sipag po talaga siya, gusto niya talaga makasampa ng barko... Hindi siya madamot. Lahat ng mga kapatid niya, tinutulungan niya po," she said.
The family is appealing directly to the national government for the immediate repatriation of his remains and an independent investigation, including a local autopsy.
"Pangulong Marcos sana po tulungan niya po kami na makauwi po yung anak ko dito para po makasama namin. Kasi sabi po isang buwan pa daw po eh sinabi po kanina sa amin. Ang tagal po noon."
Addressing her son's manning agency directly, Corteza pleaded, “sana po, tulungan niyo po kami para makauwi po yung anak ako. At sana po malaman po namin talaga kung ano po talagang nangyari. Sabihin niyo po yung totoo. Kasi lalabas at lalabas din naman po yun eh. Parang awa niyo na po para makauwi na po yung anak ko. Mahal na mahal po namin yan eh, napakabait na bata niya, walang reklamo, walang reklamo sa buhay niya, mabait po talaga siya."
DMW BRIEFING
Details surrounding the attack were confirmed Wednesday by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) during a virtual press briefing.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed that the Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker M/V SIDR came under attack late on August 31 while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was carrying 16 Filipino crew members when it was hit by unidentified projectiles, causing a fire that was later managed by the crew.
“Isa siyang crude oil tanker, at siya’y inatake ng still unknown projectiles that hit the ship as it was about to cross the Strait of Hormuz,” Cacdac stated.
“Unfortunately, meron tayong dalawang tripulanteng nasawi, as a result of the attack… We express our deepest sympathies to the families of the two desist do’n sa ship na SIDR.”
The bodies of the two fatalities have been transported to Oman. The 14 surviving Filipino crew members are safe and awaiting repatriation flight arrangements with Omani authorities.
According to Cacdac, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the immediate repatriation of the crew and directed agencies to extend support to the grieving families.
“Simula bukas ay magtutungo na ako sa mga tirahan ng pamilya ng mga nasawi… Rest assured we will be helping and holding the family, together with the OWWA, sa pagbibigay ng ganap na assistance sa pamilya kasama na do’n ‘yung agarang pagpapauwi ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” Cacdac assured.
The DMW reiterated its warning against routing Filipino seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining its classification as a red-alert, "war-like," high-risk zone.
Bahri, the Saudi ship manager of M/V SIDR, extended its condolences to the families and reassured that it will provide full support.
Cacdac noted that the agency remains in touch with the company.
“This Saudi ship manager called Bahri has been a very good employer of Filipino seafarers,” Cacdac said. “We are in-touch with them, however, we continue to remind them to be mindful of the safety of our seafarers onboard, and to put them out of harm’s way.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) deferred official statements on the incident to the DMW as the lead agency, while joint monitoring continues alongside the Department of National Defense and Omani authorities.
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