New deportation rules to take effect in 2 weeks: DOJ

FILE: Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete on Wednesday (Nov. 21, 2018). (Photo by Benjamin Pulta/PNA)

MANILA — New rules on deportation appeals will take effect in two weeks, a Department of Justice (DOJ) official said Wednesday as Department Circular 023, or the Omnibus Rules and Regulations on Appeals, on immigration and immigration-related matters was published in a newspaper of general circulation.

“These rules will take effect after 15 days,” Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete told reporters.

The new rules include provisions that foreigners ordered deported will have to leave in 30 days even though their appeals are still pending before the DOJ, following the requirements of the Administrative Code, Perete said.

He, however, said the proposed refinement on the visa on arrival policy of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) remains unresolved.

“It’s still under study. We hope to complete our study and recommendation on the draft proposal within the month,” Perete said.

In July last year, the BI ordered the deportation of Australian nun Patricia Fox for engaging in political activities in the country, a violation of the terms of her missionary visa. She appealed the order at the bureau but it was later junked.

Fox’s missionary visa expired on Sept. 5, 2018 but she was given a temporary visitor’s visa with a 59-day validity. She eventually left the country on Nov. 3, 2018.

In July this year, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. proposed the removal of the visa on arrival policy for Chinese nationals visiting the country.

He said Chinese nationals must undergo a vetting process at Philippine consular offices before securing a visa.