Immigration upholds Fox's deportation

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration has upheld its deportation order against Sister Patricia Fox, the Australian missionary who drew the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed this in a message to reporters. He said that Immigration Deputy Commissioner Tobias Javier informed him of the BI’s ruling on Fox’s case.

The resolution on the deportation order has yet to be made public as of this story’s posting.

Immigration ordered Fox’s deportation on July 19, after its board of commissioners found that she had violated the “limitations and conditions of Commonwealth Act 612, Section 9 (g) missionary visa and undesirable under Article 2711, Section 69.”

It cited Fox’s alleged participation in rallies, including a labor strike in Davao City earlier this year.

The BI said that to allow the Australian nun to participate in rallies “would open the floodgates for other aliens unbridled right to criticize the government by joining rallies in detriment of public peace in order.”

The resolution from the Immigration also said that it is taking “judicial notice” of Duterte’s pronouncements against her, which Fox said is a sign that the BI has “prejudged” her case over the chief executive’s remarks against her.

Duterte has admitted to ordering an investigation into Fox. In his later speeches, the president would repeatedly lash out against the elderly nun for having a “shameful mouth.”

Fox has spent the last 27 years in the country, extending aid to indigenous peoples, land reform advocates and people behind bars. She has recently sought to renew her missionary visa that is due to expire on September 5.