The Bureau of Immigration gave the 71-year-old Australian missionary Sister Patricia Anne Fox 30 days to answer or be deported after the bureau denied her motion for reconsideration seeking to reverse the deportation order against her.
“We understand she has a heart for the people, but her actions must remain within the boundaries set by the laws of the land. Foreign nationals must follow Philippine laws, in the same manner that our kababayans abroad follow the laws of the country they are in,” BI spokeperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said.
In a three-page resolution signed last Aug. 23 by the BI Board of Commissioners composed of Commissioner Jaime Morente, Deputy Commissioner J. Tobias Javier, and OIC Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Marinas, Fox’s motion was denied for having “no new matters raised that warrant the modification or reversal of the resolution.”
The BI issued a deportation order against Fox last July for violating the conditions of her stay and for being an undesirable alien.
Sandoval denied Fox’s accusations the bureau had prejudged her case based on the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that Fox was an undesirable alien.
“A deportation order was issued against Sister Fox for violating the conditions of her visa and for being undesirable,” she said.
“She was authorized to conduct only missionary works but had attended numerous political activities contrary to the limitations of her visa. She was likewise seen as undesirable for joining protests, which she also admitted in her affidavit,” she added.
Sandoval reiterated that foreign nationals were not allowed to join rallies in the country.
“Foreign missionaries in the country must be actually, directly, and exclusively engaged in religious work, and are not allowed to engage in partisan political activities inconsistent with their religious vocation,” she said.
The BI said that foreign nationals must follow Philippine laws or face deportation.
“It is the responsibility of the BI to ensure that foreign nationals, male or female, young or old, follow Philippine laws,” she said.