MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified that Australian nun Patricia Fox has until June 18 to leave the country, contrary to the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) order that she must leave last Friday.
DOJ secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a statement that the 30-day period prescribed by the BI for Fox to leave the country was interrupted due to her filing of a motion for reconsideration.
“Upon denial of said motion for reconsideration, petitioner had a remaining period of 25 days from 24 May 2018, the date when she was served a copy of the order denying her motion for reconsideration, within which to leave the country,” Guevarra added.
Fox, on Friday afternoon, has filed an appeal before the DOJ to review the deportation order released by the BI and the latter’s directive to cancel her missionary visa.
Guevarra has directed the BI to comment within 10 days on Fox’s appeal and to elevate all the records of the case to the DOJ. Fox would be given five days after that to file her reply to the BI’s comment.
Fox, who has been helping peasants and indigenous peoples for 27 years, was arrested by the BI on April 16 pursuant to a mission order issued by Morente. She was released a day later.
Two days following the arrest, President Rodrigo Duterte said he was the one who ordered an investigation on Fox for supposed “disorderly conduct.”
Malacañang has also presented an alleged photo of Fox speaking at a rally organized by the Kilusang Mayo Uno and Gabriela party-list in front of the Coca-Cola distribution center in Ulas, Davao City, on April 9.
Fox’s lawyer Jobert Pahilga has said they would exhaust all available legal remedies against the forfeiture of the missionary visa and the BI’s expulsion order.
“For the said order, if not challenged, will have far-reaching implications to other missionaries similarly situated with Sister Pat as the BI can now rule and decide what activity is considered political or not,” Pahilga said in a statement. “Sister Pat thus expects and hopes that the BI will abide by its rules of procedure, not arrest or forcibly deport her, give her the opportunity to appeal it to the DOJ and let the latter decide on her appeal.”/PN
