GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Guevarra: Arrest of senior missionary nun unrelated to faith, advocacy
The arrest and detention of a 71-year-old Australian missionary by Immigration operatives have nothing to do with her being a nun nor with her advocacy, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday.
While the Bureau of Immigration remains mum about the details of Sister Patricia Fox's case, Guevarra said Philippine laws shall be enforced regardless of race or faith.
"We shall implement our immigration laws fairly and uniformly, without regard to color, race or creed. Sister Patricia's case has nothing to do with her being a nun, nor with her personal advocacies," Guevarra said in a text message.
"But like any other foreigner staying in the our country, she has to obey and comply with our laws," he added.
According to militant rights watchdog group Karapatan, six BI intelligence officers went to Fox's house in Project 3, Quezon City around 2:30 p.m. Monday, and was "invited" for random checking and verification of her immigration papers and status.
"They hurriedly showed her an 'invitation/mission order' but they did not give her a copy. Fox asked the agents if she can go the BI office the next day, but they told her that she should go with them now and that she was not allowed to defer her "visit" to the BI office," Karapatan said in a statement on Tuesday.
The group claimed the nun was only read her rights when she arrived at the BI office in Intramuros, Manila, and was not shown any document indicating charges against her.
"Her captors, though, have been saying that she is being arrested for joining rallies and 'illegal political activities,' that she will be detained overnight and that she will be deported," the statement alleged.
Karapatan called for the missionary's release, citing her lawyer, Jobert Pahilga, as denying her alleged participation in an anti-government rally in Tagum City.
"She was in Region 9 as part of her religious and missionary work to immerse and help farmers and indigenous people pursuant to the mission for peace, justice and promotion of human rights of her congregation," Pahilga was quoted as saying.
However, he confirmed in the statement that Fox visited farmer-detainees in Tagum City and striking Coca-cola workers as part of a fact-finding mission, but that the mission was aimed at documenting alleged human rights violations against farmers and Lumad in Mindanao.
"The IFFSM (International Fact Finding and Solidarity Mission), therefore, is not within the context of a prohibited partisan political activity under immigration laws," he said.
Karapatan identified Fox as an agrarian reform and human rights advocate, who has, it claimed, joined activities of groups such as Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura and Pagkakaisa Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo.
