MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) cancelled the missionary visa of Australian nun Sister Patricia Fox, saying she was proven to have participated in political activities in the country.
Commissioner Jaime Morente, who heads the three-man panel that investigated Fox, said the 71-year-old Australian missionary was ordered the leave the Philippines within 30 days.
In cancelling Fox’s missionary visa which should expire on Sept. 5, 2018 yet, Morente said the nun violating Section 9 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.
“(Fox’s) missionary visa was forfeited after she was found to have engaged in activities that are not allowed under the terms and conditions of her visa,” Morente said in a statement.
Fox’s missionary visa permits only the privilege to engage in missionary work, he stressed.
Fox, a coordinator of a Philippine congregation of Roman Catholic nuns called Notre Dame de Sion, said the BI order surprised her.
“I thought the process was that I would have 10 days to put in a counter-affidavit to answer the charges,” Fox said in a statement. “I am very sad that the decision at present is that I leave the Philippines.”
BI spokesperson Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang, however, made it clear that Fox is not totally ban from entering the country as she could still visit in the Philippines as a tourist.
“She can still enter the country by obtaining a tourist visa,” Mangrobang said.
Fox still held out hope that the authorities would change their minds.
“As a Christian, believing that our mission is to bring God’s kingdom to the here and now, I couldn’t help but to get involved both with projects such as training in organic farming, to uplift the livelihood of the farmers, but also to advocate with them for their rights to land, livelihood, peace, justice and security, all universal human rights which the church sees as integral,” Fox said.
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 after.
Two days following the arrest and release, President Rodrigo Duterte said he was the one who ordered an investigation on Fox for supposed “disorderly conduct.”
The Commission on Human Rights started a probe on the arrest.
Malacañang 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, 2018./PN
