MANILA — Australian missionary nun Patricia Fox is set to leave the country for Australia on Saturday, November 3, the day her temporary visitor’s visa expires.
In a statement, the camp of the Australian nun said she is required to leave on November 3, after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) denied on Wednesday her application to extend her temporary visitor’s visa.
“Sister Fox will leave the Philippines with a clear conscience that she has done nothing wrong and illegal during her 27 years of stay in the country. She is and will always be loved by the Filipino people,” it said.
“Sister Pat will continue her missionary and human rights work wherever she may be. She will continue to stand for the oppressed and speak about injustices against the Filipino people,” the statement added.
It noted that the fight is not yet over as they are ready to face the case filed against Fox.
“We will face the deportation charges against Sister Fox which is still pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ). We shall continue to defend the rights of peoples and hold responsible repressive governments in all fora,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Fox noted that she is sad to leave the country, where she had stayed for 27 years.
“Talaga (Really) I’m sad…” she said in a telephone interview.
The 72-year-old nun said she intends to return to the country early next year.
“If I’m not on the blacklist, I intend to return early next year probably. I will look at the situation. It depends on the deportation case, I could have a couple of months if I could come back, I will come back,” she added.
Asked on what she is going to miss in the country, Fox said, “I just feel at home here now. Especially at this time people come out in support of me. Unexpected so I’m grateful to the support. I miss the life and the people.”
Her missionary visa expired on September 5 but was given a temporary visitor’s visa with 59-day validity or until November 3.
Fox is the subject of a separate Deportation Order from the BI, which she appealed before the DOJ.
The case against her stemmed for her active participation in political rallies. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
