By Jerold Tagbo
Eagle News Service
Several senators expressed different opinions about the Bureau of Immigration’s deportation order against Australian nun Patricia Fox.
“The general rule is, if you are a foreigner, do not interfere in the domestic politics of the country that you are in…So, including Filipinos who are abroad, ‘wag rin tayong makialam sa mga kilos protesta sa kanilang bansa, kasi I am sure, kahit hindi ko pa nabasa ‘yung batas ng bansang ‘yun, bawal din ‘yun,” Senate President Koko Pimentel said.
Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto III agreed, saying “no one (was) above the law.”
As for Senator Chiz Escudero, “the grant, denial or withdrawal of a visa is discretionary on the part of any country.”
He expressed hope, however, that the Australian nun, who was given 30 days to leave, “can return again soon and this misunderstanding can be clarified and resolved.”
For Senator Bam Aquino, however, the BI’s move was tantamount to harassment.
“Lantaran na ang panggigipit sa mga taong lumalaban at hindi sunud-sunuran…Now, more than ever, we need our laws to protect the rights of people willing to stand up to power and speak out against injustices,” he said.
His party-mate Kiko Pangilinan agreed, noting that the BI’s act was “not a sign of strength” but a “sign of weakness.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros added the act “promotes further the climate of impunity in the country rather than secures our sovereignty.”
“Harassing rights advocates and faith-based organizations and individuals may succeed in the short run but it will eventually fail. Gestapo-like tactics will only strengthen the people’s resolve to resist. (Adolf) Hitler’s 1,000 years of the Third Reich ended just after a few years,” Pangilinan said.
On Wednesday, April 26, Fox was directed to leave the country, after her missionary visa was forfeited.
The BI said this was following the agency’s forfeiture of her visa after she was found to have participated in “political partisan activities” in violation of Philippine immigration laws.
The BI said, however, that Fox could still enter the country but as a tourist.