Controversial Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox on Monday urged anew the Bureau of Immigration to drop the deportation charges against her, insisting that she did not join any political activities in the country.
The 73-year-old nun who was ordered investigated by President Rodrigo Duterte for “disorderly conduct,” is facing another deportation order charge, after the Department of Justice reversed the BI’s previous ruling ordering Fox to leave the country.
Fox’s counsel has filed a memorandum to the BI’s Board of Inquiry to drop the deportation case, reiterating that her act of joining public rallies was “not political” and was “consistent” with her work as a religious missionary.
Her lawyers said that the photos showing Fox in a press conference for the workers of a softdrink company, visiting political prisoners, or holding a placard calling for their release do not reveal legal violations or amount to “political activities” as defined by the Philippine Immigration law and American laws.
“These activities do not call for or against political parties and domestic and foreign policies, but are simply “expressions of human rights advocacy and unities with the marginalized and oppressed sectors of Philippine society which are well within the ambit of her mission pursuant to the social teachings of the Catholic faith,” Fox’s lawyers stated in the memorandum.
The nun also asked the bureau to remove her name from the bureau’s immigration watchlist.
Fox’s lawyers reiterated that she did not violate the limitations and conditions of her missionary visa under Commonwealth Act No. 613 by rendering religious work outside of Quezon City, her area of residence as indicated in the visa.
Her lawyers said a barangay certification will limit the place of the nun’s work and will unduly delimit and restrict her religious work,” a violation of the constitutional provision against interference in religious exercise. With Bianca Grajo
“To delimit it to a particular territory or area would necessarily encroach upon the teachings of the Catholic faith and the very nature of human rights work and advocacy,” the memorandum stated.
Fox’s legal counsel Maria Sol Taule also denounced the Bureau of Immigration’s move on forfeiting the nun’s visa.
“Ninunullify namin ang sinasabi ng BOI na forfeited ang kanyang visa sa Pilipinas dahil walang basis yun sa batas sa mismong Omnibus [Rules] ng BOI.”
Taule added that their camp filed a memorandum earlier today to debunk Fox’s deportation case and said that that was the last case rolling.
“We are also ready to face ang mga hindi paborableng decision against us ng BOI and ready kami to appeal whatever decision na hindi maging favorable sa'min,” she added.
When asked about what Fox will do if ever her deportation pushed through, Fox, the mother superior of Our Lady of Sion, said that she would head back to Australia.
The sister added, “I’m hoping na renew. Kasi walang choice kung wala, unless TNT, di ko gagawin yun.”
Taule said that they will file an appeal to the bureau to approve her visa and to explore more possible legal actions to have it resolved.
Fox’s camp continues to hope for the best for their mother superior and for a lengthened stay in the country for the nun to continue her missionary work.
Last April 16, Fox was ordered detained by President Rodrigo Duterte and was released without charges the next day.
Duterte said that he only asked her to be investigated not arrested, for disorderly conduct.
Fox had since denied Duterte’s allegations by saying she has not been engaged in any party politics.