Aussie nun Patricia Fox to leave PHL but to return once Duterte term ends

Australian missionary Patricia Fox, still legally fighting a deportation order, will leave the Philippines "under strong protest" following the government's rejection of her bid to extend her visa, her lawyers said Wednesday.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has denied the 72-year-old nun's application for the extension of her temporary visitor's visa and ordered her to leave the country on November 3, the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) said.

"Sr. 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," the NUPL said. 

The Solidarity with the Poor Network claimed the missionary is leaving the country under protest.

A protest action to be launched on November 3 will give tribute to Fox, who has worked as a missionary among "poor and oppressed" Filipinos for 27 years, the network said.

"Sr. Pat will continue her missionary and human rights work wherever she may be," the NUPL added. "She intends to come back in the Philippines as soon as President [Rodrigo] Duterte is out of power and another government more receptive of dissent and who recognizes missionary and human rights work is in place."

Fox is accused of joining "political activities" prohibited among foreigners. While she admits participating in fact-finding missions and advocating for social justice causes, she maintains her activities are within the scope of her missionary work and are protected by guarantees to free speech and assembly.

She was first arrested then released pending further probe by Philippine authorities in April, shortly after which no less than Duterte admitted ordering her investigated for "disorderly conduct."

Her lawyers are appealing a BI-issued deportation order before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

They have earlier said they were willing to elevate their appeal to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Fox's voluntary departure, if true, will not prejudice the DOJ's resolution of her deportation case.

"If she wins, then her name will be removed from the blacklist," Guevarra told reporters in a text message. — MDM, GMA News