THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has affirmed with finality its decision to revoke the missionary visa of Australian nun Patricia Fox over her alleged involvement in partisan political activities.
In an order signed May 17, the BI Board of Commissioners denied with finality Fox's appeal seeking the reversal of the Board’s order dated April 23 that forfeited Fox's visa and directed her to leave the country within 30 days.
"This order is final and executory. We will not entertain any further Motion for Reconsideration,” said the BI Board of Commissioners whose members are Commissioner Jaime Morente (Chairperson), Deputy Commissioners Tobias Javier and Marc Red Mariñas.
In the order, the BI Board dismissed Fox’s assertion the latter's visa was forfeited without due process.
It maintained that Fox acted beyond the allowed activities under her visa by working outside of Barangay Amihan in Quezon City, the place where she claimed she would render her missionary works when she applied for her visa.
The BI debunked the claim of the Australian nun that the allegations against her lacked evidence.
It stressed that "the strict rules on evidence do not apply to immigration cases which are administrative proceedings requiring only the lowest quantum of evidence."
The decision of the BI on the deportation complaint against Fox, however, remains pending.
BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval clarified that this will be dealt with by the Board of Commissioners separate to the visa revocation order.
She said that pending resolution of the deportation complaint, Fox could still return to the country as a tourist. She clarified that Fox is not in the Bureau’s blacklist. (SunStar Philippines)