DOJ: Sister Fox has until June 18 to leave Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Patricia Fox, the Australian nun who was at the receiving end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirade several weeks ago, has until June 18, 2018 to leave the country, according to the Department of Justice, as it orders the Bureau of Immigration to comment on her petition seeking a reversal of the leave order against her.

In a two-page order released late Friday afternoon, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that Fox’s last day in the Philippines was on June 18 and not today as the 30-day period given to her by the BI was interrupted by the nun’s motion for reconsideration filed on the fifth day of the period.

Guevarra said that the counting of the 30-day period recommenced only on May 24, 2018 when a denial of the said motion for reconsideration was issued.

On Friday, Fox sought the help of the DOJ to reverse the leave order of the BI against her, arguing that the agency’s ground for cancelation of her missionary visa was not prescribed by the bureau’s Rules of Procedure.

They also argued that the BI failed to give the Australian nun, who was blasted by Duterte supposedly after criticizing the government, an opportunity to be heard.

Guevarra also ordered the BI to comment on Fox’s petition for review within a non-extendable period of 10 days.

He also directed the agency, which is under the Justice department, to submit to his office all the records of the case.

Fox in turn was given a non-extendable period of five days from receipt of the BI’s comment to file her reply.

“This Office reserves the right to call such clarificatory hearings as may be necessary to arrive at a just resolution of this appeal,” Guevarra said.

On Wednesday, the BI affirmed the forfeiture of Fox’ missionary visa over her alleged political engagement while in the country.

Cited in the case against her was a photo where she was shown holding a placard calling for the release of so-called political prisoners in the country, an act Fox argued was part of her mission to help the poor.

Fox has spent almost three decades in the country helping farmers and pushing for agrarian reform initiatives.

The foul-mouthed Duterte has accused Fox of having a “shameful mouth” and of treating the Philippines like a “mattress to wipe your feet.”