by Catholic News Service
Philippine authorities said an Australian missionary woman religious must leave the country by Nov. 3.
Sr. Patricia Fox, Philippine superior of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, had sought for six months to overturn repeated government decisions to deport her after she was accused of participating in partisan political activities.
The Bureau of Immigration announced Oct. 26 that it had downgraded Fox's missionary visa to a temporary visitor's visa that expires Nov. 3, ucanews.com reported.
Fox was allowed to stay in Manila as a tourist pending a ruling on a second appeal to the Department of Justice. The immigration bureau order, however, requires her to leave the country even though her appeal remains under consideration.
"Under the circumstances she is compelled to leave under strong protest," said attorney Katherine Panguban of the National Union of People's Lawyers.
"Sr. Fox will leave the Philippines with a clear conscience that she has done nothing wrong and illegal during her 27 years of stay in the country," Panguban said.
Dana Krizia Sandoval, immigration bureau spokeswoman, said it was "too early to tell" if the nun's visa could be extended. "We have to wait for the decision on her appeal to the (Justice Department) first," she said.
Immigration authorities said Fox had "failed to raise any new and substantial arguments" as to why her missionary visa should be renewed. They also said an approval would have been "inconsistent with the findings cited in the deportation order against her."
In July, authorities ordered Fox to leave the Philippines after she was declared an "undesirable alien" by the bureau.
In a 10-page resolution, it found the nun was "in violation of the limitations and conditions of her missionary visa" for reportedly joining partisan political activities.
The Australian nun originally was arrested and detained overnight April 16 for "joining political rallies."
Philippine Church leaders have repeatedly condemned the deportation order, saying it is a government move to harass those who criticize Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's administration.
Throughout her years in the Philippines, Fox ministered to tribal peoples and political prisoners and assisted land reform advocates.
Panguban said Fox's effort to remain in the country would continue through the appeal to the justice department.
"We shall continue to defend the rights of peoples and hold responsible repressive governments in all fora," she said.
Fox said she has no choice but to leave Manila for Australia but that she intends to return to the Philippines in 2019.
"If I'm not on the blacklist, I intend to return early next year probably," she said. "I will look at the situation. It depends on the deportation case."