MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) has nullified the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) Visa Forfeiture Order on the Missionary Visa of Australian nun Sister Patricia Fox.
In a ten-page order granting the Motion for Reconsideration to the Department of Justice filed by Fox’s counsel, Secretary of Justice Menardo Guevarra stated that the April 23 and May 17 Orders by the BI forfeiting Fox’s visa is declared “null and void for having been issued without legal basis”.
The Order stated that Visa Forfeiture is not in BI’s Omnibus Rules of Procedure 2015, and orders for the proper disposition of the case.
“We received the resolution on Sister Fox’s Motion for Reconsideration, and we submit to the directive from the DOJ on the disposition of her case,” said BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval.
Sandoval bared that the Visa Forfeiture would have downgraded Sister Fox’s visa from a Missionary Visa to a Temporary Visitor’s Visa, and would require her to leave the country within thirty days. The DOJ, noted, however, that Visa Cancellation procedure would have the same effect and is the one written in BI’s Omnibus Rules.
“The DOJ saw that the proceedings initiated by the Bureau may fall under visa cancellation, and not visa forfeiture,” said Sandoval. “Cases of visa cancellation, according to Section 5 of the BI Omnibus Rules, may also be based on allegations of deportable offenses,” she added, referring to reports of Fox’s involvement in partisan political activities.
Sandoval mentioned that BI will be reinstating Fox’s visa and reactivating her ACR I-Card, and she is free to remain in the country and continue her missionary work pending the result of the deportation charge and/or visa cancellation case against her.
Fox is subject of a separate deportation charge for her alleged involvement in political activities.
