(Eagle News) — The Bureau of Immigration on Tuesday, April 17, released Australian nun Patricia Fox from custody.
Jobert Pahilga, Fox’s lawyer, said this was after they “satisfactorily explained” it wasn’t a rally she had attended in Tagum, Davao, but a visit that was part of her advocacy.
The supposed rally Fox attended was captured in pictures submitted to the BI.
“Walang probable cause (for the charge of being an undesirable alien) as of now,” Pahilga told reporters.
According to Pahilga, though, the proceedings against Fox would continue, and their camp was required to file their affidavit within ten days from today.
He said Fox, however, was set to leave for Australia in May, which meant they would have to file a motion for an allow departure order.
“I haven’t joined political rallies…but I have been active in human rights,” Fox told reporters.
Earlier, the BI said Fox was arrested on Monday, April 16, because she “violated the conditions of her stay” in the country.
In a statement on Tuesday, April 17, the BI said this the 71-year-old Fox did when she attended protest rallies and engaged in political activities.
Under the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, the immigration commissioner can arrest and deport any alien who “believes in, advises, advocates or teaches the overthrow by force and violence of the Government of the Philippines, or of constituted law and authority, or who disbelieves in or is opposed to organized government or who advises, advocates, or teaches the assault or assassination of public officials because of their office, or who advises, advocates, or teaches the unlawful destruction of property, or who is a member of or affiliated with any organization entertaining, advocating or teaching such doctrines, or who in any manner whatsoever lends assistance, financial or otherwise, to the dissemination of such doctrines..”
“We shall implement our immigration laws fairly and uniformly, without regard to color, race or creed. (Fox’s) case has nothing to do with her being a nun, nor with her personal advocacies,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.
On Monday, the BI denied entry to the country and deported Giacomo Filibeck, who, according to the immigration department, participated in “partisan political activities” as a tourist in violation of Philippine immigration laws.
