ICC Note: Australian nun Patricia Fox, ordered again to leave the country by the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines has won another reprieve to stay after her lawyers filed a motion for reconsideration on July 22. The authorities intended to deport her accusing her of violating the conditions of her missionary visa. But the order in reality came from President Duterte who dislikes her criticism of him.
07/25/2018 Philippines (UCA News) – An Australian missionary nun ordered deported last week by Philippine authorities is not leaving the country just yet.
Sister Patricia Fox, of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, won a reprieve after her lawyers filed a motion for reconsideration on July 22.
“The deportation order cannot be enforced until it becomes final…. With the filing of the appeal, the deportation will not be executed,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.
On July 19, Philippine authorities ordered the immediate deportation of Sister Fox after she was declared an “undesirable alien” by immigration authorities.
The bureau found the nun “in violation of the limitations and conditions of her missionary visa” for reportedly joining partisan political activities.
The nun has also been put on the bureau’s blacklist, barring her re-entry.
Immigration bureau spokeswoman Dana Krizia Sandoval told ucanews.com that the Board of Commissioners would review the nun’s appeal.
“We froze the implementation of the order against Sister Fox pending her appeal. She can stay in the country while waiting for the final order,” said Sandoval.
The nun can also apply for the extension of her missionary visa, which will expire on Sept. 2, because “the order to include her on the blacklist is also suspended.”
Sister Fox’s lawyer said the immigration bureau’s decision to deport the nun was based on “a false and unfounded statement” by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The president has made statements accusing the nun of being “foul mouthed” for criticizing the government.
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