Sister Fox not yet completely off the hook

Australian nun Patricia Fox is not yet off the hook even after Department of Justice (DOJ) reversed a directive of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) revoking her missionary visa, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the deportation case against Fox was still pending despite the latest DOJ decision.

“Sister Fox is not yet off the hook. Ang napawalang bisa lang po ng DOJ (What the DOJ nullified) is the decision of the Commission on Immigration and Deportation which nullified her missionary visa. Ang sabi po ng DOJ walang ganyang kapangyarihan ang CID (The DOJ said the CID has no such authority),” Roque said during a press conference in Cotabato City.

“Pero nakabinbin pa po ‘yung deportation proceedings kaya malinaw po sa desisyon ni Justice Secretary Guevarra, this is without prejudice po sa desisyon ng CID sa deportation proceedings (But the deportation proceedings are still pending so it is clear that Justice Secretary [Menardo] Guevarra’s decision is without prejudice to the decision of the CID on the deportation proceedings),” he added.

Roque said the issue surrounding the deportation case was whether or not Fox was engaged in political activities in the country.

Appeal available But Guevarra said yesterday that should the Bureau of Immigration (BI) order her deportation or cancel her visa, Fox can still run back to the DOJ or to Malacanang for appeal.

Meanwhile, Guevarra had assured Fox that she can continue with her missionary duties in the Philippines until the expiration of her missionary visa or the BI finally resolves its deportation and visa cancellation cases against her.

Bishop’s takeaway Although happy over the DOJ ruling, the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Mission believes the nun’s struggle is not yet over.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said there could still be some attempts to cancel her missionary visa as this is the desire of President Duterte.

“The struggle of Sr. Fox may not yet be over,” he said in an interview. “There could still be some attempts of cancelling it on account of the personal wish of Duterte. What Duterte wants Duterte gets by hook or by crook!” added Bastes. The prelate asked church people to be vigilant. (With a report from Leslie Ann G. Aquino)