Duterte admits he ordered nun probe
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday he ordered the investigation into a 71-year-old Australian nun for “disorderly conduct”, justifying it as a legal move against “undesirable” foreigners.
Sister Patricia Fox, a coordinator of a Philippine congregation of Catholic nuns called Notre Dame de Sion, was taken from her house this week and detained at the immigration bureau in Manila for almost 24 hours.
She was released on Tuesday pending further investigation.
‘Apology in order’
Fox had taken part in rallies seeking the release of political prisoners and urging Philippine authorities to respect human rights, but she denied she was engaged in politicking.
“I ordered her to be investigated, not deported at once, not arrested, but to invite her to an investigation for a disorderly conduct,” Duterte said during the change of command ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said there was “probably” a need to apologise for the detention of Fox because she was not engaged in any political activity when she was taken from her home by immigration authorities.
“Perhaps an apology was in order. Clearly there was a mistake,” he said early yesterday in an interview with ANC news channel.