DOJ: Sister Fox can stay sans visa

Australian nun Patricia Fox may stay in the Philippines even without a visa despite the Bureau of Immigration (BI) order upholding her deportation, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday.

Guevarra said Fox is allowed to stay until the BI decides on her application for extension of her missionary visa, which expired last week.

He said Fox can stay until the Department of Justice (DOJ) rules on her appeal.

Guevarra explained that the decision of the BI whether to extend the missionary visa of Fox will be “without prejudice to the resolution of her appeal.”

This means Fox may be given another missionary visa. But she could still be kicked out of the country should the DOJ reject her appeal and affirm the BI’s deportation order.

Guevarra said the issue could reach the courts should Fox opt to file a petition after all administrative remedies before the executive branch were exhausted.

“Any ruling of the DOJ (on the deportation order) may be submitted for judicial review,” he explained.

Last week, Fox filed for issuance of another missionary visa after her visa expired on Sept. 5.