Sister Fox’s fate known today

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to decide today whether Australian nun Patricia Fox will be deported or be allowed to stay in the country.

The DOJ will rule on Fox’s appeal to reverse the Bureau of Immigration (BI)’s decision downgrading her missionary visa to a temporary visitor’s visa and ordering her to leave the country within 30 days, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

Guevarra said Fox’s one-month temporary visa expires today.

Fox, represented by the National Union of People’s Lawyers, sought the reversal of the May 17 final ruling of the BI board of commissioners, which revoked her missionary visa.

The bureau reiterated that Fox acted beyond allowed activities by working outside Barangay Amihan in Quezon City, the place where she claimed she would render missionary work when she applied for a visa.

The BI clarified that the final cancelation of the nun’s visa is separate from the resolution of the complaint for deportation against Fox for supposedly engaging in political rallies, which remains pending.

In her petition, Fox insisted that “there is no basis for the downgrading of her missionary visa to a temporary visitor’s visa.”

“The allegation that she violated the terms and conditions of her visa is misplaced and unfounded. The BI report did not mention that the petitioner’s presence or activities disturbed the peace and order of the country,” the petition read.

While Fox’s lawyers agreed with the BI’s position that a visa is a privilege and not a right given to foreigners, they pointed out that “once it is granted by the state, it cannot be revoked except on valid grounds and upon observance of due process of law, both substantive and procedural.”