Immigration frees 71-year-old Australian nun

April 17, 2018

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) released from its custody Tuesday Sister Patricia Fox, an Australian missionary, a day after she was apprehended  on a mission order that Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued due to reports she allegedly violated conditions of her stay by engaging in political activities and anti-government demonstrations.

Morente approved the recommendation of the BI legal division headed by Arvin Cesar Santos Fox be released for further investigation after it was established that the Australian nun holds a valid missionary visa.

Fox submitted her passport and other immigration documents showing she was issued her missionary visa on Oct. 15 last year and that visa is valid until Sept. 9 this year.

In a two-page note with recommendation to Morente, Santos said while Fox was alleged to have taken part in protests by farmers in the past, she was not doing so at the time when BI operatives served her the mission order yesterday.

Santos said Fox is not covered by inquest proceedings as it  applies to aliens arrested after being caught violating immigration laws.

He said under BI rules Fox should undergo preliminary investigation to find out if deportation charges should be filed against her before the bureau’s board of commissioners. DMS