By JUN RAMIREZ, with a report from Hannah L. Torregoza
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has revoked the missionary visa of Australian missionary Patricia Fox and ordered her to leave the country within 30 days.
In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente disclosed that bureau’s Board of Commissioners (BoC) forfeited Fox’s privilege of holding a missionary visa under Sec. 9 (g) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 and ordered her to leave due to her involvement in partisan political activities.
“She (Fox) was found to have engaged in activities that are not allowed under the terms and conditions of her visa,” Morente said.
The BI chief stressed that Fox’s visa granted her only the privilege to engage in missionary work and not in political activities.
Morente chairs the three-man BoC and BI Associate Commissioners J. Tobias Javier and Aimee Torrefranca -Neri are its members.
In a one-page order issued last Monday, the BI board ordered the forfeiture of Fox’s missionary visa which was due to expire on Sept. 5 this year. It also directed the deactivation of her alien certificate of registration.
“We direct Fox to leave the Philippines within 30 days from receipt of this order,” the board stated.
Despite the forfeiture of her visa, lawyer Antonette Bucasas- Mangrobang, BI spokesperson, explained that Fox may still enter and leave the country as tourist.
Mangrobang also said that Fox’s deportation case is still pending before the BI Special Prosecutor, as she (Fox) has yet to file her counter-affidavit.
It is only after the parties have been heard, will the case be submitted to the Board of Commissioners for their deliberation on whether or not she will be deported and barred from entering the country in the future, she added.
SOLONS BACK BI MOVE
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday said the Philippine government has the right to exercise its prerogative in granting and cancelling a visa.
“It’s unfortunate but the grant, denial or withdrawal of a visa is discretionary on the part of any country. I am hopeful that Sister Fox can return again soon and this misunderstanding can be clarified and resolved,” Escudero said in a text message.
Asked if the Duterte government was right in ordering her departure, Escudero said “not necessarily but it’s a country’s prerogative.”
Explaining further, Escudero recalled his own experience when his visa application was denied by the United States (US) government.
“Parang ako noon. My US visa application was denied in spite of the fact that I was admitted to a school in the US,” the senator said.
Other senators backed Escudero’s view. Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson also said they see nothing wrong with the BI’s order against Fox.
“The BI has the power to arrest, detain and deport foreigners who have violated our domestic laws,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel said that as far as he is concerned, domestic politics is reserved for local citizens only.
“Before condemning the Duterte administration, it is prudent to understand the facts surrounding the issue involving the Australian nun,” Lacson pointed out.