MANILA — Operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have apprehended an Australian Catholic nun in her residence in Quezon City on Monday afternoon.
“We confirm the apprehension of Patricia Fox pursuant to a Mission Order issued by Commissioner Jaime Morente,” said BI spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang in a statement.
“The apprehending officers are still in the process of completing their reports, documentation and affidavit of arrest. We await the submission of the reports and affidavits before we issue our official statement,” she added.
On the other hand, Fox said that six immigration officer went to her house at around 2 p.m. with a mission order, inviting her to come with them.
“I was only ordered to come here. The order says to go to Immigration. At first I was told about my status,” she said in a telephone interview.
As of this time, Fox, a human rights advocate, is held at the Intelligence Division of the BI main office in Intramuros, Manila. The BI is asking Fox to produce her passport before she could be released.
Fox, 71 is a holder of a missionary visa which will expire on September. She said that the last time she joined a rally was last March during the Women’s Day rally.
“I was at the last Women’s Day march in Manila. I have not spoken anything anti-Duterte,” she added.
The missionary nun has been in the country for 27 years.
“I have been in and out of the country several times I have never been questioned,” said Fox, a nun from the Notre Dame De Sion.
She was detained by the Aquino administration in 2013 during protests in Hacienda Luisita but was released without charges. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
