If the bill filed by the Makabayan bloc to grant Filipino citizenship to Sister Patricia Fox passes, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it could no longer deport the Australian missionary.
Asked for a comment on House Bill 7806 filed by progressive lawmakers, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said they would defer giving any statement until there would be any resolution to the piece of legislation.
But in case Sister Fox becomes a Filipino citizen, Sandoval said they could no longer deport her.
“A Philippine citizen cannot be deported from the Philippines,” the BI spokeswoman said in an interview on Wednesday.
READ: Makabayan bloc files bill granting Filipino citizenship to Sister Fox
The bill was filed by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, ACT-Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago.
The militant lawmakers sought to grant Filipino citizenship to Sister Fox as a way to “recognize and acknowledge her sacrifices in almost three decades of her selfless service to the Filipino people.”
“For 27 years, Sr. Pat lived with and served the farmers, indigenous peoples and other marginalized people in the communities. By living with the poor and oppressed, Sr. Pat has come to understand, experience and embrace the culture and the struggle of the poor Filipino majority,” the lawmakers said in the bill.
“Not only that she speaks their language, Sr. Pat was accepted by the Filipino communities and was treated as one of their own because she lives and struggles with them,” they added. /muf