(Eagle News) — The Bureau of Immigration has junked Australian nun Patricia Fox’s appeal of the agency’s decision to forfeit her missionary visa.
In denying Fox’s appeal of the April 23 order, the BI in a three-page order signed on May 17 dismissed her claim the bureau forfeited her visa without due process and her claim the accusations of “partisan political activities” against her were not backed by solid evidence.
It noted that Fox worked beyond what she was allowed to do under the terms of her missionary visa when she worked “outside of Barangay Amihan in Quezon City, the place where she claimed she would render her missionary works when she applied for her visa.”
“The order likewise stressed that the strict rules on evidence do not apply to immigration cases which are administrative proceedings requiring only the lowest quantum of evidence,” the BI said.
According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, the May 17 order was “final and executory.”
Morente also chairs the Board, with BI Deputy Commissioners J. Tobias Javier and Marc Red Mariñas as members.
BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval noted that pending resolution of a separate deportation complaint against Fox, however, she could still return to the country as a tourist.
In April, Morente announced the forfeiture of Fox’s visa after the BI’s board of commissioners found she “engaged in activities that are not allowed under the terms and conditions of her visa.”
The agency also ordered Fox to leave within 30 days.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte admitted it was he who ordered an investigation into Fox’s activities.
He said Filipinos have “unlimited freedom of expression” in the country but not foreigners.