Duterte rejects appeal on nun’s expulsion

President Duterte has rejected appeals for the government to revoke the expulsion of Australian missionary nun Patricia Fox, saying there were plenty of nuns in the country anyway.

The President admitted that some San Beda lawyers tried to appeal the revocation of Fox's missionary visa but he turned them down, citing that she violated an order signed by Senator Leila de Lima when she was still justice secretary.

Duterte, reading De Lima’s immigration operation order, said foreigners are prohibited from supporting and joining any rally or gathering whether for or against the government.

"Anybody can criticize me, wag lang foreigner [except for foreigners]," the President said during his visit to Quezon province Wednesday.

Duterte insisted that foreigners have no right to criticize or insult the Philippine government because unlike Filipinos, they don't pay the salaries of government officials here.

Besides, Duterte believed the country has more than enough nuns despite the looming departure of Fox.

"Sabi ng mga taga-San Beda na aregluhin yung madre, ahh, maraming madre dyan. May mga madre pa sa bukid, nandun sa NPA. Pababain mo yun. Sobra sobra tayo ng madre [Some people from San Beda tried to appeal on behalf of the nun, but there are many nuns here. There are nuns in the mountains with the New People's Army. Let them come down. We have more than enough nuns]," he added.

The Bureau of Immigration recently forfeited the missionary visa of Fox and or- dered her to leave the country before the end of the month.

The bureau claimed that Fox, 71, violated the terms of her missionary visa when she got involved in political activities.

Fox was detained for a day last month after President Duterte ordered an investigation on her alleged "disorderly conduct.”

Duterte earlier warned that he would arrest foreigners who defame the government in political activities in the country.

Fox, a missionary nun helping the poor and indigenous peoples for nearly three decades, reportedly plans to go to court to contest her deportation.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the immigration order was final and executory unless Fox gets a temporary restraining order from the court.