THE Makabayan bloc has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to reverse the Bureau of Immigration (BI) order cancelling the missionary visa of Australian nun Sister Patricia Fox.
The bloc's call is contained in a resolution filed Thursday, May 10. The resolution is titled "Resolution Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives Condemning the Duterte Administration for Arresting Sr. Patricia Ann Fox, a Missionary of The Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, and for Issuing a Deportation Order Against her Without Due Process and Urging President Rodrigo Duterte to Reverse the Deportation Order."
The bloc includes Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago.
Fox was arrested last April 16 for allegedly violating the conditions of her stay in the country by engaging in partisan political activities.
On April 25, the Bureau of immigration decided to cancel Fox's missionary visa and ordered her to leave the country within 30 days over her alleged involvement in political activities, which according to the BI are not allowed under the terms and conditions of her stay as a holder of a missionary visa.
In the resolution, the Makabayan bloc said that President Duterte's order to investigate Fox is obviously a "witchhunt" and is part of the Palace's campaign to silence critics of the administration.
It added that "the arrest of Sr. Pat was clearly a fishing expedition."
It also said that the BI abused its authority as it ordered the cancellation of Fox's visa even when it still has to finish the deportation proceedings against the nun.
The Makabayan bloc said the acts of Duterte and the BI in politically persecuting Fox deserved to be condemned "in the strongest words possible."
It noted that Fox is the first foreigner subjected to deportation proceedings for political reasons since the Marcos regime. (SunStar Philippines)