MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, June 19, clarified that Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox is “not off the hook” yet.
In a press conference in Cotabato City Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said that what was invalidated
“Ang napawalang-bisa lang po ng DOJ (What DOJ nullified) is the decision of the commission of immigration and deportation, which nullified her missionary visa. Ang sabi po ng DOJ walang ganyang kapangyarihan ang CID, pero nakabinbin pa po yung deportation proceedings,” Roque said. By CID, he was referring to the Bureau of Immigration, formerly known as Bureau of Immigration and Deportation.
(DOJ said the Bureau of Immigration does not have the power to revoke a visa. Deportation proceedings against Sister Fox are still ongoing.)
In the resolution issued Monday, June 18, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said visa forfeiture is not among the powers accorded to the BI.
"Our existing immigration laws outline what the BI can do to foreigners and their papers- including visas - when they commit certain acts within Philippine teritory. What the BI did in this case is beyond what the law provides, that is why it has to be struck down," Guevarra said.
"The BI cannot simply create new procedures or new grounds to withdraw a visa already granted to a foreigner," Guevarra said.
Read: DOJ ruling grants respite to Australian nun (link to http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1748562/Manila/Local-News/DOJ-ruling-grants-respite-to-Australian-nun)
Roque said the DOJ clearly stated that its decision was made “without prejudice to the decision” on the deportation proceedings.
“Ang issue po sa deportation proceedings ay kung namolitika ba Malaga si Sister Fox. Uulitin ko po, she’s not off the hook. Ongoing po ang deportation proceedings. Hintayin po natin ang desisyon,” he added.
(The issue is whether Sister Fox engaged in politics. I repeat, she’s not off the hook. The deportation proceedings are ongoing. Let’s wait for the decision.)
On April 23, the BI revoked the missionary visa of Fox and ordered her to leave the country within 30 days for violating the conditions of her stay in the country by engaging in political activities.
Fox, a 71-year-old Australian missionary who has been working closely with farmers and indigenous groups in the Philippines in the last 27 years, was arrested on April 16 for attending protest rallies. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)