Palace: Sister Fox not yet off the hook

SIGH OF RELIEF Joy is written all over the face of Sister Patricia Fox as she welcomes news that Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has reversed a Bureau of Immigration order downgrading her missionary visa to tourist visa. —JAM STA. ROSA

Malacañang on Tuesday said Australian nun Patricia Fox was not yet off the hook even after the Department of Justice (DOJ) voided the order of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that downgraded her missionary visa to a temporary visitor’s visa.

“Well, I will make it clear. Sister Fox is not yet off the hook,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said a televised press briefing in Cotabato City.

“Ang napawalang bisa lang po ng DOJ is the decision of the Commission on Immigration and Deportation (CID), which nullified her missionary visa,” Roque added.

READ:  DOJ reverses BI’s ruling: Sister Fox staying in PH for now

In a resolution made public on Monday, the DOJ granted the petition filed by Sister Fox, saying the BI has no legal right to forfeit visas.

“Ang sabi po ng DOJ, walang ganyang kapangyarihan ang CID  pero nakabinbin pa po ‘yung deportation proceedings kaya malinaw po sa desisyon ni Justice Secretary Guevarra, this is without prejudice po sa desisyon ng CID sa deporation proceedings,” Roque said.

Guevarra still ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to hear the case on visa cancellation along with the deportation case.

The BI had earlier cancelled the missionary visa of Fox for her alleged participation in partisan political activities.

“Ang issue po sa deportation proceedings eh namulitika ba talaga si Sister Fox. So uulitin ko po she’s not off the hook,” Roque said.

“Ongoing po ang deportation proceedings. Antayin po natin ang desisyon ng CID on the issue on whether or not sumapi sa pulitika itong si Sister Fox,” he added. /muf