Group on leave order vs Sister Fox: Joining probe, supporting peasants not crimes

MANILA, Philippines — A rights group insisted that Sister Patricia Fox did not commit any crime in the country after the Bureau of Immigration had denied the Australian nun’s appeal on the cancellation of her missionary visa.

In a statement late Wednesday, Karapatan said the forfeiture of Fox’s missionary visa reflects the agency’s propensity to deny due process to foreign missionaries and human rights defenders “at the whim and caprice of President [Rodrigo] Duterte.”

The rights group stressed that the participation of Fox in independent probes into rights violations and her show of support to workers denied of their rights or political prisoners are not crimes.

“It is an exercise of humanitarianism and solidarity... It is an exercise of the rights to freedom of speech,” it said.

Karapatan added: “Providing accompaniment to peasants’ struggle for land and social justice is not a crime. It is an exercise of the right to association.”

Last month, Malacañang presented photos of Fox showing that she spoke at a rally organized by the Kilusang Mayo Uno and Gabriela party-list in front of the local Coca-Cola factory in Davao City on April 9.

But the 71-year-old nun said that she only showed support to the workers and maintained that she did not say anything that might have earned the ire of Duterte.

READ: Immigration: Leave order vs Sister Patricia Fox stays

The Immigration on Wednesday denied with finality Fox’s motion for reconsideration on the cancelation of her missionary visa. She is ordered to leave the country before May 26.

The bureau canceled her missionary visa on April 25, citing her involvement in partisan political activities.

Her camp will elevate the case to the Department of Justice.