MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will no longer deport Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox if Congress grants her Filipino citizenship, an official said yesterday.
“A Filipino citizen cannot be deported from the Philippines,” BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said.
Sandoval made the statement after the Makabayan bloc of seven leftist party-list representatives asked Congress to grant Fox Filipino citizenship.
The Australian nun is facing deportation for supposedly engaging in partisan political activities.
Fox has appealed the BI’s revocation of her missionary visa before the Department of Justice, to allow her to stay in the Philippines.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate led his colleagues in filing House Bill 7806, which seeks to grant Fox Filipino citizenship.
“Congress has granted Filipino citizenship to foreigners who donated schools and multi-purpose halls to Filipino communities. Sister Fox gave Filipino farmers and indigenous people a big part of her life,” Zarate said. – Evelyn Macairan