(Eagle News) — Members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives have filed a bill seeking to grant Filipino citizenship to Australian nun Patricia Fox.
Reps. Carlos Zarate, Antonio Tinio, Emmi de Jesus, France Castro, Arlene Brosas, Ariel Casilao and Sarah Jane Elago filed House Bill 7806 after the Bureau of Immigration affirmed its April decision to forfeit her missionary visa in May.
This was after it found Fox violated the terms of the visa when she worked beyond Quezon City, the place where she said she would conduct her missionary work.
The BI also affirmed its order for Fox to leave within 30 days upon receipt of the initial directive, or on May 25, but the Department of Justice, where the Australian nun filed an appeal, said she had until June 25 to stay in the country pending resolution of such.
“Instead of prosecuting and deporting Sister Pat through false charges, the government should instead recognize and acknowledge her sacrifices in almost three decades of her selfless service to the Filipino people,” the lawmakers said in the bill.
According to the lawmakers, in the first place, “for 27 years, (she has) lived with and served the farmers, indigenous peoples and other marginalized people in the communities.”
“By living with the poor and oppressed, (she) has come to understand, experience and embrace the culture and the struggle of the poor Filipino majority,” they said.
They added she also “speaks their language.”
“Granting Filipino Citizenship to (her) would be much more than a fitting recognition for her selfless service to the poor and oppressed Filipinos. It is a response to the call of many farmers, fisher folks, and indigenous people whose lives were touched and helped by Sister Pat,” the lawmakers added.