Sister Fox to appeal deportation order next week

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Sister Patricia Fox will appeal the Bureau of Immigration's deportation order next week.

In a report by The STAR, Fox's camp said that they are "dismayed" with the Bureau's order but they will exhaust all legal remedies to overturn it.

Camp of Sr. Patricia Fox say they are "dismayed" by Bureau of Immigration order which called for her deportation. They are set to file a motion for reconsideration by next week l @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/Cydx8VFRfW

— Romina Cabrera (@romina_marie) July 20, 2018

Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval, in a message to reporters, said under the Omnibus Rules, the BI's Board of Commissioners order "is final and executory within 30 days unless motion for reconsideration is filed."

The usual process, according to Sandoval, is the submission of clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation to show that she has no accountability to the country, no pending court case and a ticket.

Should Fox be deported, her name will be placed under the Immigration's blacklist which will bar her from re-entry to the Philippines where she spent the last 27 years pursuing missionary work.

On Thursday, the BI handed down the deportation order signed by Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente to Fox and her lawyers. The board said that Fox violated the "limitations and conditions of Commonwealth Act 613, Section 9 (g) missionary visa and undesirable under Article 2711, Section 69."

Fox's camp also said that order stemmed from government official's "hurt egos," especially Duterte who has repeatedly called out Fox in his speeches.

The BI, in its 10-page resolution, said that it took "judicial notice" of Duterte's public pronouncement against the elderly nun. The firebrand leader has branded Fox as an "undesirable alien by joining political rallies."

But Sandoval stressed that the bureau gave more weight to Fox's alleged engagement in "partisan politics" in ordering her deportation.

The board cited photos where Fox was was allegedly "engaging" in partisan political activities in 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018. They said: "To allow respondent Fox to participate in political rallies or activities would open floodgates for other aliens unbridled right to criticize government by joining rallies to the detriment of public peace and order.”

Sandoval said that the Immigration saw Duterte's statement as "part of his power to deport or expel an alien."

"The decision [was] more on involvement of partisan activities. [President Duterte's involvement] was only in part [of the decision]" Sandoval stressed. — Kristine Joy Patag with a report from Romina Cabrera