Critics ask: If Duterte has nothing to hide, why the crackdown on foreign activists?

MANILA, Philippines — Critics of the government slammed the detention of two foreigners who were nabbed by immigration officials, saying it raises questions about what the government is trying to conceal.

The Liberal Party stressed that the incidents involving rights and land reform advocate Patricia “Sister Pat” Fox and Party of European Socialists official Giacomo Filibeck debunk the claim of the current government that it has nothing to hide.

“The emerging trend on crackdown against foreign activists in the country is alarming as exhibited by the harassment and casual arrests of the two human right advocates who were not even in protest activities or rallies when taken into custody,” LP, the erstwhile ruling party said.

Karapatan also stressed that the illegal arrest of Fox and other cases of threats and harassment against delegates of fact-finding missions in the Philippines are clear signs that President Rodrigo Duterte is “guilty as hell” of rights violations.

“If indeed Duterte is as innocent as his sycophants say, there would be no reason for blocking any form of independent inquiries into the cases of extrajudicial killings and other rights violations against peasants and other poor sectors in the Philippines,” Karapatan said.

READ: Immigration releases 'partisan' Australian nun a day after apprehension

Fox was released Tuesday afternoon, nearly a day after she was arrested by the Bureau of Immigration for her reported violation of the country’s law banning political assembly.

Activists stage protest outside the Bureau of Immigration office in Manila to condemn the arrest of Sr. Patricia Fox. #CBCPNews pic.twitter.com/XLXPziHjkt

— CBCPNews (@cbcpnews) April 17, 2018

Groups condemned her arrest and detention, saying it lacks due process and respect for her rights as a church person.

The arrest of the 71-year old Australian lay missionary came only a day after BI deported Filibeck. He was denied entry to the country Sunday for being part of the seven-member delegation in October 2017 who denounced the spate of extrajudicial killings.

READ: European socialists' party condemns Philippines' deportation of official