OPPOSITION group Makabayan bloc on Wednesday, May 30, filed a bill seeking to grant Filipino citizenship to Australian missionary Patricia Fox.

In the bill, the Makabayan bloc said that instead of prosecuting Fox, the government should show appreciation for her sacrifices in almost three decades by granting Filipino citizenship to her.

Article IV Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution states that those who are naturalized in accordance with the law will be classified as Filipino citizens.

Naturalized Filipinos can enjoy the privileges being enjoyed by natural born citizens.

"Granting Filipino citizenship to Sister Patricia Ann Fox would be much more than a fitting recognition for her selfless service to the poor and oppressed Filipinos," the explanatory note of the bill states.

"It is the response to the call of many famers, fisher folks and indigenous people whose lives were touched and helped by Sr. Pat," it added.

The bill was filed days after the Bureau of Immigration affirmed its decision that revoked the missionary visa of Fox and ordered her to leave the country for allegedly violating the conditions of her stay by joining partisan political activities.

She has until June 18 to leave the country.

Fox challenged the order before the Department of Justice last week, saying that the BI's order as the ground for the cancellation of her visa is not prescribed by BI's Rules of Procedure. (SunStar Philippines)