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The Favis family issued an official statement on September 3, 2026, about the incident involving Rodrigo Favis, who was serving under Jebsen PTC in the Strait of Hormuz on August 31. The full statement issued in Pilipino: Ang pamilya ni RODRIGO FAVIS, isang Pilipinong seafarer na nakatalaga sa ilalim ng manning agency na Jebsen PTC, ay opisyal na naglalabas ng pahayag na ito upang hilingin ang mabilis, makatarungan, at transparent na imbestigasyon ukol sa kanyang kalagayan at sa totoong nangyari sa kanyang barko. Ayon sa paunang impormasyon, noong Lunes, Agosto 31, 2026, nagkaroon ng matinding insidente sa barkong kinabibilangan ni Rodrigo Favis. Sa kabila ng orihinal na kasunduan na ang rota ng barko ay sa Europa lamang, nalaman lamang ng biktima sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga kasamahan sa barko at hindi mula sa opisyal na abiso ng kumpanya na sila ay dadaan sa Strait of Hormuz (isang itinuturing na High Risk Area / War Risk Zone). Hanggang sa kasalukuyan: * Wala pang natatanggap ang p...

Senator Cynthia Villar commended the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the launching of a program that will make passport applications more accessible to Filipinos. Passport on Wheels (POW), which was initiated by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, was launched at Villar SIPAG in Las Pinas and served about 1,500 applicants. “The reforms we are now seeing at DFA such as the opening of more appointment slots and this POW project seek to address concerns about passport applications and consular services to Filipinos,” Villar said. Villar, who was guest of honor during the event, was principal sponsor of Republic Act 10928 or the law extending to 10 years the validity of passports in her capacity as then vice chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations. The law amended Section 10 of Republic Act 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 extending the validity of regular passports from five years to a period of 10 years. For individuals under 18 years of a...