BI affirms its leave order vs. Sister Patricia Fox 

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has denied the appeal of Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox to reinstate her missionary visa.

In turn, the BI also stood by its order for Sister Fox to leave the country.

“This order is final and executory. We will not entertain any further Motion for Reconsideration,” BI commissioner Jaime Morente said in a three-page order, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

The BI reiterated its charge against the 71-year-old nun that she had “acted beyond allowed activities under her visa by working outside of Barangay Amihan in Quezon City, the place where she claimed she would render her missionary works when she applied for her visa.”

“The order likewise stressed that the strict rules on evidence do not apply to immigration cases which are administrative proceedings requiring only the lowest quantum of evidence,” the bureau explained.

The order, according to the BI, was signed on May 17 by the three-member board of commissioners led by Morente, with BI Deputy Commissioners J. Tobias Javier and Marc Red Mariñas as members.

However, BI spokeswoman Dana Sandoval said Sister Fox could still return to the country as a tourist because she is not included on the bureau’s blacklist.

Sandoval said the complaint for deportation against the Australian nun for allegedly engaging in political activities was still pending, and that it was a separate case from the forfeiture of her visa.

The BI said the 30-day leave order issued against Sister Fox will lapse on May 25. /vvp