Immigration urged to reconsider Patricia Fox’s deportation

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has appealed to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to reconsider its order for Australian nun Patricia Anne Fox to leave the country, as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) questioned the lack of due process in the forfeiture of her missionary visa.

In a statement yesterday, CBCP president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles defended the “sincerity and dedication” of Fox, who has been a missionary serving poor Filipinos for more than 27 years.

“We are truly saddened by this turn of events… In this recent development, we sincerely make an appeal that the authorities may make a reconsideration of their order for Sr. Patricia Fox to leave the country,” CBCP president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said in a statement yesterday.

“Without entering into the merits of both parties in the case, this is for the proper authorities to decide. But this we say: we believe in the sincerity and dedication of Sr. Patricia to serve our people.

“We continue to pray for the Lord’s enlightenment for all those who are involved in this case, but in particular, we continue to pray for Sr. Patricia Fox, for her health and well being,” he added.

Fox’s lawyer will file a motion for reconsideration before the BI.

The CHR has questioned the lack of due process in the decision of the BI to forfeit the missionary visa of Fox and order her to leave the country in 30 days.

In a statement yesterday, the CHR said Fox should have been given the chance to explain her side and submit her counter-affidavit as required by the law before a decision regarding her case was arrived at.

“It is unfortunate that the recent events that led to the BI order directing Australian religious missionary and human rights defender Sr. Patricia Fox to leave the country appears to be bereft of due process… All persons – whether Filipino or not – have the right to due process before an order or judgment affecting them is made,” said the commission.

“The BI, however, has already issued a notice forfeiting her missionary visa without due consideration of her defense and even ahead of a pending deportation case, thereby appearing to settle the question on her alleged ‘partisan political activities’ unilaterally,” it added.

CHR also pointed out that Fox did not receive a formal copy of the BI’s decision and only learned about it in media reports.

Fox, a long-time missionary doing humanitarian work in the Philippines, was accused of joining a political event earlier this month.

Immigration officials cited a photo showing Fox in what appeared to be a rally and holding a sign calling for freedom for political prisoners.

The CHR said it hopes that the government is not discriminating against Fox in its recent actions, citing a trend of attacks against human rights defenders including tagging some of them as terrorists.

“In the same way that our government asserts the rights of Filipinos abroad, our officials should be able to extend the same to foreign nationals in our country,” said the human rights body.