Patricia Fox has 30 days to appeal deportation

MANILA, Philippines — Australian nun Patricia Fox has 30 days to file her appeal before the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Office of the President to reverse the deportation order issued against her by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), an official said yesterday.

Dana Sandoval, spokesperson for the BI, said Fox would not be immediately deported as the 72-year-old nun is entitled to file an appeal. 

If Fox will not file a petition within 30 days, Sandoval said she can voluntarily present herself to the bureau’s deportation unit. 

On Aug. 23, the BI Board of Commissioners dismissed the motion for reconsideration filed by Fox and affirmed its deportation order issued  last month.

Sandoval said Fox could also run to the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court if she loses her appeal before the DOJ and the President’s office.

“If she refuses to comply with the order, she will be held temporarily by the bureau,” Sandoval said.

Fox’s lawyer Sol Taule said they received a copy of the BI’s resolution.

“We will file an appeal before the DOJ next week,” Taule told reporters.

Fox has been working as a missionary in the country for 27 years.

The BI issued a deportation order against Fox last July for allegedly violating the conditions of her stay in the Philippines by joining political rallies.

Sandoval denied Fox’s accusations that the BI had prejudged the case based on the pronouncement of President Duterte that the nun is an undesirable alien. 

“She was only authorized to conduct missionary works, but had attended political activities contrary to the limitations of her visa,” Sandoval said.

“Foreign missionaries in the country must only engage in religious work. They are not allowed to participate in political activities,” she added.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Missions expressed dismay over the BI’s resolution that affirmed Fox’s deportation.