An Australian missionary nun has been ordered to leave The Philippines after immigration authorities upheld a decision for her deportation.
In April, Sister Patricia Fox, 71, was ordered to leave The Philippines by 25th May after the Bureau of Immigration ruled she had violated the conditions of her missionary visa. Her lawyers appealed the decision but the bureau this week upheld its initial decision with Commissioner Jaime Morente saying the order was “final and executory”.
Sr Fox’s lawyer, Jobert Pahilga, reportedly said an appeal had been lodged with the Department of Justice and that Sr Fox would “exhaust” all available legal remedies in challenging the order.
Earlier in April, Sr Fox was detained for almost 24 hours after President Rodrigo Duterte personally ordered her to be investigated for engaging in “illegal political activities” – claims her lawyer denies.
Sr Fox, who has worked in The Philippines for almost 30 years, is co-founder and superior of a Roman Catholic order, the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion (Notre Dame de Sion). She is known for her defence of Filipino farmers and their human rights.
