MANILA — Australian missionary Sr. Patricia Fox on Wednesday said she is honored over the proposal of several legislators to grant her Filipino citizenship.
She noted that such act from some members of the House of Representatives show that she is welcome in the country.
“Actually I feel very privileged that they would consider filing a bill that would make me a citizen. Because that makes me feel very accepted. And that has been how I always felt here, very accepted,” the Australian nun said in a forum in Quezon City on Wednesday.
“I am very honored that they would even propose such a thing,” she added.
Asked if she would accept it once the measure has been passed, Fox said: “Yes I will accept it.”
On the other hand, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippine-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC) executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano noted that the job of missionaries does not only involve church work but also covers field works such as meeting members of communities.
“Church work does not only involve the pulpit. Also part of our mission is immersion in communities. It’s part of our job to have concrete works,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Fox would not be deported once Congress grants the bill making the 71-year-old nun a naturalized Filipino citizen.
“A Philippine citizen cannot be deported from the Philippines,” said BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval.
Fox is facing a deportation case at the BI for allegedly participating in partisan political activities. (PNA)
