Palace tells Fox: Next time, follow the law
Malacañang advised Australian nun Sister Patricia Fox to follow the law as no good deed can excuse anyone for his or her wrongdoings.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement following Fox's departure over the
weekend after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) downgraded her missionary visa and denied her an extension.
In a statement, Panelo thanked Fox for the good things she was able to accomplish during her stay in the country. However, he said that everyone has to follow the law.
“We wish Sister Fox well in her travel and we thank her for whatever good deeds she has performed during her stay in the country. Such acts, however, cannot exempt her from the punishment imposed by law as a consequence of her wrongdoing,” he said.
“Dura lex sed lex. The law may be harsh but it is the law and obedience thereto excuses no one from compliance therewith,” he added.
Panelo also advised Fox to always follow the law wherever she may be so as not to suffer its consequences.
“Our advice to Sister Fox is to follow the law whether here or elsewhere. Otherwise, the law of cause and effect will operate against her, as it did in this particular instance,” he said.
The Palace official, meanwhile, said that Fox is a reminder for foreigners in the country that they do not enjoy the same privileges as every Filipino.
Panelo insisted that Fox’s departure and downgrading of her missionary visa was due to her participation in political rallies, a violation of the conditions of her stay, and as spelled out in BI's Operations Order No. SBM 2015-025.
“To say that Sister Fox is ‘compelled to leave under strong protest’ is, therefore, misleading as it is erroneous. Neither is there ‘injustice’ nor ‘silencing or threatening anyone from exercising the freedom of expression’,” Freedom of expression remains unbridled in this part of the world,” he said.
“Sister Fox was given due process of law. She underwent a legal process where she was given the opportunity to be heard. She availed of all remedies that she may stay in the Philippines but the BI upheld the law and denied the request for the extension of her visa, which is set to expire tomorrow, November 4,” he added.
Fox will return But Vice President Leni Robredo said Sister Fox’s departure is just “temporary” and that she will be back someday to continue her mission of helping more Filipinos.
In her Sunday radio program, “BISErbisyong Leni,” Robredo said: “Tingin ko temporary lang ito, temporary lang ‘yung pagkawala niya dito sa Pilipinas (I think this is only temporary, her absence here in the Philippines is temporary),” Robredo, a lawyer, said.
The Vice President has reasons to believe the 72-year-old missionary will return to the Philippines.
She said she was saddened by the deportation of Fox since she has been in the country for 27 years doing missionary work.
“Matagal na panahon tumulong siya sa Aurora. Tumulong siya sa mga lumad at talagang babad na babad. Nakakalungkot na pinaalis siya dito sa atin. Mas Pilipino pa siya kaysa sa marami sa atin,” (She was helping for a long time in Aurora. She helped the lumads and was really hands on. It is sad she was deported. She is more Filipino than many of us.), Robredo said. (With a report from Raymund F. Antonio)