Sister Fox files appeal at DOJ

Sister Patricia Fox and her lawyer. INQUIRER.net/Ryan Leagogo

Australian Missionary Patricia Fox on Friday has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reverse the Bureau of Immigration’s decision downgrading her Missionary Visa to a Temporary Visitor’s Visa and ordering her to leave the country within 30 days.

Her 30-day deadline to leave the country is today, Friday.

But Atty. Katherine A. Panguban said while the Immigration’s order is immediately executory, Fox’s appeal has stopped its implementation.

“Ito pong pag file natin ng apela, under the (Immigration) rules, this will stay the execution of the order of the BI. Therefore, the missionary visa is still valid. Hintayin natin ang desisyon ng DOJ. Yung order na sya ay umalis kasabay ng cancellation ng kanyang visa ay di po dapat i-execute,” Panguban said.

[The appeal that we have filed today, under the rules, will stay the execution of the BI’s order. We wait for the DOJ’s decision. The [BI’s] order that she has to leave the country after the cancellation of her visa should not be executed.]

Panguban appealed to the BI to recognize its own rules and respect Fox’s pending appeal. /muf