Leftist solons: Duterte should say sorry to Sister Pat

Progressive lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte should apologize to Australian nun Sister Patricia Fox for ordering her arrest.

In a press conference, ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio, a part of the seven-member House Makabayan bloc, said Duterte should even thank Fox for her service as a missionary to the people of Davao City.

"Dapat mag-apologize kay Sister Pat si Pangulong Duterte. Hindi lang yun. Dapat magpasalamat pa nga siya kay Sister Pat dahil sa pagmamalasakit nito na pinakita ni Sister Pat sa mga Pilipino lalo na sa mga taga-Davao na kababayan ng Pangulo," Tinio said.

Duterte on Wednesday took responsibility for Fox's arrest, saying that he did not order that she be arrested, but investigated for supposed “disorderly conduct.”

“I ordered her to be investigated, not deported at once, not arrested, but to invite her to an investigation for a disorderly conduct," Duterte said in a speech during the Armed Forces of the Philippines change of command in Camp Aguinaldo.

"You know in our laws, the Philippine laws provide that I can deport you or refuse your entry if you are an undesirable alien," he added.

Anakpawis party-list Representative Ariel Casilao said Fox's arrest is a clear indication of the government's crackdown against human rights defenders, whether Filipino or foreign.

"Malinaw na ito ay bahagi ng crackdown, bahagi ito ng intolerance ng gobyerno sa anumang kritisismo, both foreign, local and political," he said.

Casilao pointed out that Fox dedicated 27 years of her life to serve the people, particular the poor and the marginalized.

"Since 27 years ago, she's sacrificed a comfortable life in Australia and went to the Philippines, particularly in Central Luzon, to be with the Aetas and the farmers," he said.

He added that in those 27 years, Fox never became a speaker in any rally, and that she is a very gentle person who never gets angry.

Tinio also slammed what he called Duterte's "bogus" sense of nationalism, which he  says the President uses to cover up his human rights record.

"Pinagmamayabang niya na kaya daw niya ginawa yun [arrest] para ipagtanggol ang soberanya ng Pilipinas laban sa mga dayuhan katulad ni Sisiter Pat na pumupuna sa human rights situation," he said.

"Bistado na si Pangulong Duterte at yung kanyang istilo na yan. Natutuklasan lang niya ang kanyang nasyonalismo kapag pinupuna ang kanyang human rights record. Pinantatabing niya ang nasyonalismo sa kanyang masahol na human rights record," he added.

Tinio also said the arrest of Fox and the exclusion of Italian national and Party of European Socialists deputy secretary-general Giacomo Filibeck from the country send a warning for foreigners who are vocal against the human rights situation in the Philippines.

"Kailangan na bakahin natin yung pinalalaganap na ideya ng Malacañang... na ang mga dayuhan dito ay walang karapatang magsalita o magpahayag. That's simply not true. Siguro ang pwedeng sabihin, ang pinagbabawal yung paglahok ng mga dayuhan sa partisan political activities," he said.

"Yung partisan political activities, hindi kasama doon yung pagpapahayag sa human rights situation," he added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, however, said that there is no crackdown on foreign supporters of leftist groups. — BM, GMA News