Immigration orders Australian missionary to leave in 30 days or be deported

April 25, 2018

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has ordered Australian missionary Patricia Fox to leave in 30 days or face deportation.

​In a statement Tuesday, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said Fox’s missionary visa was canceled by the by the bureau’s board of commissioners which ordered her to leave due to her involvement in political activities.

“She (Fox) was found to have engaged in activities that violate the terms and conditions of her visa,” Morente said.

“We direct Fox to leave the Philippines within 30 days from receipt of this order. We shall initiate proceedings against Fox in case of non-compliance with this order,” the board said.

Morente said Fox’s visa gave her the privilege to engage in missionary work only. Fox’s missionary visa was due to expire on Sept. 5 this year.

​Morente chairs the three-man board of commissioners and BI Associate Commissioners J. Tobias Javier and Aimee Neri are its members.

​​The board cited a photograph taken of Fox last April 7 in Davao City where she was seen holding a placard demanding release of all political prisoners.   DMS