SISTER Patricia Fox's departure was a “timely reminder” that foreigners should avoid challenging the Philippine laws and taking advantage of the host country's hospitality, Malacañang said on Saturday, November 3.
This was the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo after Fox, an Australian nun, left the Philippines and returned to her home country following the deportation order issued on her by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Panelo reminded that foreigners in the country were not entitled to rights and privileges being enjoyed by Filipino citizens, including political rights, as laid down under Operations Order No. SBM 2015-025 issued by the Immigration bureau and approved by former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima.
“The departure of Sister Patricia Fox is a timely reminder to all foreigners who stay or sojourn in this country that they are not entitled to all the rights and privileges granted to the citizens of the Philippines, including the absolute exercise of political rights inherently exclusive to Filipino citizens,” Panelo said.
“Undeniable is the fact that Sister Fox joined protest rallies. She has publicly acknowledged that joining these activities is part of her advocacy. Her participation therefore violated the conditions of her stay thereby mocking our laws, and abusing the hospitality extended to her by the host country,” he added.
Six months after her deportation fight, the 73-year-old Australian missionary who has also been accused of being a critic of President Rodrigo Duterte was ordered by the BI to leave the country on Saturday.
In May, the Immigration bureau ordered the forfeiture of Fox's missionary visa for purportedly engaging in political activities in the country.
To recall, Fox was arrested on April 16, for alleged engagement in political activities and anti-government demonstrations, but was released by the BI a day after her detention, since she is “properly documented alien” since she holds a valid missionary visa.
On April 18, Duterte admitted that he had ordered the conduct of investigation against Fox, as he claimed that the latter was allegedly “badmouthing his administration.”
But Malacañang on Thursday, April 19, denied that there has been a crackdown on foreign entities who are critical of the Duterte administration.
Panelo said it was “erroneous” to say that Sister Fox was “compelled to leave under strong protest.”
He stressed that there was no “injustice” or “silencing or threatening anyone from exercising the freedom of expression” under the Duterte government's watch.
“Freedom of expression remains unbridled in this part of the world,” he said.
“Sister Fox was given due process of law. She underwent a legal process where she was given the opportunity to be heard. She availed of all remedies that she may stay in the Philippines but the BI upheld the law and denied the request for the extension of her visa, which is set to expire tomorrow, November 4,” he added.
Fox has been working in the Philippines for 27 years helping farmers and indigenous peoples.
Panelo said the executive branch wished Fox “well in her travel and we thank her for whatever good deeds she has performed during her stay in the country.”
“Such acts however cannot exempt her from the punishment imposed by law as a consequence of her wrongdoing. Dura lex sed lex. The law may be harsh but it is the law and obedience thereto excuses no one from compliance therewith,” he said.
“Our advice to Sister Fox is to follow the law whether here or elsewhere. Otherwise, the law of cause and effect will operate against her, as it did in this particular instance,” Panelo added. (SunStar Philippines)