Roque: Apologies in order for BI’s wrong arrest of Australian nun

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday said the Bureau of Immigration committed a mistake of arresting elderly Australian missionary Sister Patrifica Fox.

"Mayroon naman pong batas na ang mga dayuhan ay hindi dapat nanghihimasok sa politika natin... Ang problema lang ay mukhang nagkamali dito kay Sister Fox," Roque said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"Siguro apologies are in order kasi madalian naman siyang pinalabas din ng BID (Bureau of Immigration). Siguro nagkakamali rin naman ang BID," he added.

Immigration agents arrest Fox at her home in Quezon City on Monday afternoon based on a mission order signed by Commissioner Jaime Morente.

She was allegedly arrested for joining protect actions in the country.

In a message on Tuesday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Fox was taken by immigration agents not because of her religion or advocacy, "but like any other foreigner staying in the country, she has to obey and comply with our laws."

A few hours after Guevarra's message, Fox was released by the Immigration bureau after her lawyer presented a valid missionary visa and her passport.

Meanwhile, Roque insisted that the government has very clear reason not to allow Giacomo Filibeck, deputy secretary-general of the Party of European Socialists (PES), to enter the country.

"Pupunta siya dito to participate sa isang political convention na ipinagbabawal ng batas. Mayroon tayong kapangyarihan na tanggihan ang mga dayuhan na pumasok sa ating teritoryo," he said.

Filibeck was denied entry into the country through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

He was supposed to attend the two-day Akbayan Party Congress.

Filibeck had previously criticized President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody campaign against illegal drugs. —ALG, GMA News