Palace refutes CBCP; shows photo of Aussie nun speaking at rally

In a press briefing on Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque showed a photo taken on April 9 where Fox was speaking in a rally. (PCOO photo)

MANILA – Malacanang on Friday belied claims made by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that Australian nun Patricia Fox has never spoken in protest rallies in the country.

In a press briefing on Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque showed a photo taken on April 9 where Fox was speaking in a rally.

“I heard the CBCP say that Sister Fox, although she attends rallies, has never spoken in rallies. Well, I now have a picture and this is taken April 9 in a rally organized by KMU (Kilusang Mayo Uno) and Gabriela party list,” Roque said.

The rally was held in front of the Coca-Cola Davao City Distribution Center in Ulas, Davao City.

“There you have it, Sister Fox speaking in the strike at Coca-Cola Davao City. It is very clear, she is holding a microphone,” Roque said while showing the photo on television.

Roque believed that Fox did not tell everything to the CBCP including a separate occasion where the Australian nun also spoke in a protest rally in 2013.

When asked to comment on the Commission on Human Rights’ plan to investigate Fox’s arrest, Roque said: “It’s up to them. Do what they want to do”.

Fox, a 71-year-old nun, was arrested and temporarily detained last April 16 for supposedly joining a political activity.

The Bureau of Immigration released her the next day but “for further investigation after it was established that the Australian nun holds a valid missionary visa thus, she is a properly documented alien”.

President Rodrigo Duterte had taken full legal responsibility for Fox’s arrest.

Duterte said it was him who ordered the Australian nun to be investigated “for a disorderly conduct.”