No urgency in resolving Fox appeal: DOJ

Australian nun Patricia Anne Fox. (File photo by Roy Lagarde/CBCP News)

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said it is not in a hurry to resolve the appeal of activist Patricia Fox to be allowed back to the country.

“The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently received the Memorandum filed by Sister Patricia Fox . Because of this and considering that in the meantime, other equally important but more urgent petitions for review have been filed with the Office of the Secretary of Justice,the resolution of Sister Fox’s appeal from the deportation order issued against her will have to await next year,” DOJ spokesperson, Undersecretary Markk Perete told reporters.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier clarified that the deportation case against Fox need not be resolved ahead of the expiration of her tourist visa last November 3.

The DOJ explained that when the deportation case is eventually cleared in her favor, Fox may opt to apply for removal from the government’s blacklist and eventually seek permission to visit the country anew.

“The deportation case is a totally different matter.

Sister Fox must leave after her visa expires, without prejudice to the DOJ decision in the deportation case on appeal. If Sister Fox eventually wins, her name will be removed from the immigration blacklist and she may return to the Philippines,” he said.

Fox left the country following the expiration of the 59-day extension of her visa.