Nancy Binay on Sr. Patricia Fox: How can a 71-year-old missionary be a threat to society?

Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday slammed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for its excessive use of authority in arresting 71-year-old Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox, questioning how the nun can be a "threat to society."

"Apparently, the Bureau of Immigration used excessive authority in connection with the arrest of Sister Patricia, and has acted on a mistaken perception plucked from an imaginary threat," Binay said in a statement.

"Ang tanong eh 'how can a 71-year-old nun be a threat to society?'" she added.

The BI has confirmed the arrest of Fox following a mission order from Commissioner Jaime Morente.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Fox has been helping peasants and indigenous peoples for 27 years.

Binay asked how an Australian religious person be as "outlawed" as Chinese syndicates involved in drugs, gambling and prostitution.

"Sister Patricia has been helping farmers, lumads and those in the marginalized sectors of society. Paano naging krimen ang pagtulong sa kapwa? What threat does preaching the Word of God pose to society?" she said.

"Siguro ang kailangan pagtuunan ng pansin ng BI ay yung mga illegal aliens na nagpapasok ng droga, yung mga involved sa human smuggling at child pornography at yung nasa terror list ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)," she added.

Binay said that the enemies of the state are terrorists and drug syndicates. But Fox's arrest shows that BI clearly overreacted on something that does not pose clear and present danger.

"What pose as threats to people and society are drugs, terrorism and sex offenders. Being a Christian nation, we welcome foreign observers and religious missionaries to stay in the country as long as they complied with existing laws," she said.

"It is BI's mandate to secure the country against foreigners whose presence may be deemed threats to national security. Its powers is for the public good and should never be used as a political tool," she added.

Fox is a volunteer staff of Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) and an active supporter of the peasants' struggle, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes said.

The CBCP said Fox is also a missionary of the Our Lady of Sion. —KG, GMA News