A group of lawmakers have filed a bill that would grant Filipino citizenship to Australian missionary Sr. Patricia Fox, who is facing deportation for her alleged participation in political rallies.
House Bill 7806, filed at the Philippine House of Representatives on Wednesday, calls on Congress to award Fox with a Filipino citizenship in recognition of her nearly three decades of service to the people of the Philippines, GMA News reported.
"For 27 years, Sister Pat lived with and served the farmers, indigenous peoples and other marginalized people in the communities. By living with the poor and oppressed, Sr. Pat has come to understand, experience and embrace the culture and the struggle of the poor Filipino majority," the bill stated, according to GMA News.
"Not only that she speaks their language, Sister Pat was accepted by the Filipino communities and was treated as one of their own because she lives and struggles with them," it continued.
The introduction of the bill came after the Philippine Department of Justice announced that Fox has been given until June 18 to leave the country.
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration initially ordered to leave the country by May 25, after canceling her missionary visa.
Fox appealed the order, claiming that there was not enough evidence in her alleged violation of a law prohibiting foreigners from participating in political activities in the Philippines. Her appeal was dismissed by the immigration bureau, but it had effectively extended her deadline to leave the country.
Apolinario Lozada Jr., a former member of the House of Representatives, expressed doubts that the legislation would pass in Congress.
He said that most of the lawmakers are allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, who accused Fox of treating the Philippines like a "mattress to wipe your feet."
Duterte said in April that he ordered the immigration bureau to conduct an investigation into Fox for her critical remarks against his administration. The president asserted that her remarks constitute a "violation of sovereignty."
"I ordered her to be investigated, not deported at once, not arrested, but invite her to an investigation for a disorderly conduct," Duterte said, according to Rappler.
Fox was detained by the Bureau of immigration, but was soon released after it was found that she had a valid missionary visa.
The bill that seeks to grant citizenship to Fox was filed by the "nationalist bloc," which contended that it would be a "fitting recognition" for the nun's service to Filipinos.
Fox, who serves as a Philippine superior of the international Catholic congregation Our Lady of Sion, indicated that she would accept citizenship if it is approved by Congress. "It makes me feel very accepted here. I feel very honored that they proposed such a thing," the nun told UCA News.
