DOJ to resolve Patricia Fox’s petition in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) will issue a resolution on the petition for review of the deportation complaint filed by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) against Australian nun Sister Patricia Anne Fox by next year.

Justice department spokesman Undersecretary Mark Perete said yesterday they decided they would prioritize other urgent cases pending before the Office of the DOJ secretary and issue the resolution on the deportation case of the 72-year-old Fox by next year.

Perete said recently, they received the memorandum filed by the camp of Fox and “because of this, and considering that in the meantime, other equally important but more urgent petitions for review have been filed with the Office of the Secretary of Justice,  the resolution of Fox’s appeal from the deportation order issued against her will have to wait for next year.”

Fox, who is the provincial superior of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion and has been living in the Philippines for the past 27 years, left the country last Nov. 3 after the BI denied the extension of her temporary visitor’s visa.

She returned to Australia even without seeing the resolution of her deportation case. 

Fox has been battling for her continued stay since she was arrested by BI intelligence agents in April 16. She was then accused of allegedly taking part in partisan political activities such as rallies promoting the interest of farmers and indigenous peoples (IPs).

When her missionary visa expired last Sept. 5, she was given a temporary visitor’s visa by the BI that was only valid for 59 days or until Nov. 3.

At that time, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the nun’s name would be included in their blacklist and she would no longer be allowed to return to the country.

Just before she left the country, Fox had said that she will take a few months’ vacation in Australia and might return early next year. “I will look at the situation. It depends on the deportation case. If I could come back I will come back.”