Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox has urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) “to breath life to constitutional guarantees on the promotion and protection of human rights” as she insisted that the government should reverse the order of deportation issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) against her.
In a reply submitted to the DOJ, Fox said the right to free expression and to peaceful assembly under the 1987 Constitution is not only applicable to Filipino citizens but to foreigners as well.
She maintained that revoking her missionary visa should not be done unilaterally, and she should have been given the opportunity to give her side before making the decision.
The BI has revoked Fox’s missionary visa and ordered her deportation based on the report of one of its intelligence officers that she had participated in protest rallies and fact-finding missions.
READ: BI orders deportation of Sister Fox
READ: Deport Sister Fox within 30 days — Immigration
The bureau said Fox violated the terms of her stay in the Philippines. The BI also considered statements made by President Duterte that the Australian nun is an undesirable alien following her participation in protest rallies.
Fox, in her reply, said she firmly believes that the BI “had never been objective in resolving the deportation case.”
“To sanction this argument [on Duterte’s pronouncement against Fox] would be to state that decisions should be based on the public pronouncement of the President irrespective of the merits of the case and the arguments of the parties,” read Fox’ reply.
Without a missionary visa and with a deportation order against her, DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Sister Fox can still stay in the country until the DOJ rules on her appeal. /ee
READ: Duterte rejects calls to withdraw order for Sister Fox to leave PH
READ: Fox tells Duterte: Please listen