AUSTRALIAN NUN ALLOWED TO STAY

AUSTRALIAN missionary Patricia Fox scored a partial legal victory on Monday when the Department of Justice voided the order issued by the Bureau of Immigration forfeiting her visa and ordering her to leave the country. The Justice department’s decision allows Fox to stay in the country. However, she may still be kicked out if the Immigration bureau initiates visa cancellation procedures against her.

“In a Resolution granting the petition filed by Fox, Secretary of Justice Menardo Guevarra declared the BI’s forfeiture of Fox’s visa ‘ without legal basis,’” the DoJ said in a statement.

It added that immigration laws allow the conduct of visa cancellation procedure.

“The BI treated this as a case for visa forfeiture instead of one for visa cancellation. As a result, the bureau has yet to decide whether the supposed actions of Fox do indeed justify the cancellation of her visa,” Guevarra said.

He added that the department will return the case to the BI.

Maria Sol Taule, Fox’s legal counsel, said Fox was happy that she was allowed to keep her visa. “Thank you to those who expressed their support! This is our victory,” Taule said in Filipino.

But Taule said Fox has yet to know how the DoJ resolution will affect the deportation case against her.

Fox’s missionary visa will expire on September 5.

The Australian nun has been living in the country for 27 years.

Various groups welcomed the decision to reverse the BI order.

“The facts speak for themselves: Sister Patricia Fox deserves to stay in the Philippines and continue her missionary work with the peasants, lumads and poor Filipinos,” said Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said in a statement.

“Congratulations, Sister Pat! Now you can again freely continue serving the poor in the provinces, which you have done for 27 years now,” Movement Against Tyranny said.