"An Austalian nun's adherence to faith and social concern amidst threat and imputation"

"An Australian nun's adherence to faith and social concern 

amidst threat and imputation"

(Or how Sr. Patricia Fox's radical concern for the Filipino folk
earned an ire and threat from Duterte)

By Lualhati Madlangawa Guererro

"Foreigners, with due respect, should not involve themselves in the politics of the countries they are visiting such as the Philippines like joining political rallies." These are the words a commentator said in a post related to the arrest and deportation threat issued against an Australian nun known for supporting peasants and human rights issues.

To the system and its apologists, Fox's action meant interference in internal affairs, especially those of controversial nature such as human rights and the like; for theirs it meant disrespect to a country's sovereignty.

But come to think of this, is heeding the plight of the poor is subversion? Actually, her detention comes in the wake of her participation in a fact-finding mission held in Mindanao organised by the "Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas" (Peasant Movement of the Philippines). 

And despite harassments, the fact-finding mission successfully uncovered testimonies from communities affected by state repression: mostly consists of constant police harassment and lethal military actions, all on behalf of landgrabbers and exploiters. 

But still, the government sees it as hindering their efforts to curb opposition. For sure one would remember how Thomas Van Beerzum end caught then deported because of his participation in the protest, or the recent one involving a parliamentarian whom opposed Duterte's bloodied escapade. They even cited an "Immigration Operation order No. SBM-2015-025" which was signed by signed by  former Justice secretary Leila De Lima last July 2015, and it said:

"Foreign tourists are prohibited from engaging in any political activity as defined by law and jurisprudence, such as but not limited to, joining, supporting, contributing or involving themselves in whatever manner in any rally, assembly, gathering, whether for or against the government.”

“Foreign tourist who violate the provision..SHALL BE SUBJECT TO DEPORTATION..”

Sounds justifiable, so is the 1987 Administrative Code of the Philippines, which also includes the President having the power over foreign aliens residing in the country- as according to chapter 3, Title 1, Book 3 of the Code which said:

"SECTION 8. Power to Deport.—The President shall have the power to deport aliens subject to the requirements of due process.

SECTION 9. Power to Change Non-Immigrant Status of Aliens.—The President, subject to the provisions of law, shall have the power to change the status of non-immigrants by allowing them to acquire permanent residence status without necessity of visa.

SECTION 10. Power to Countermand Decisions of the Board of Commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration.—The decision of the Board of Commissioners which has jurisdiction over all deportation cases shall become final and executory after thirty (30) days from promulgation, unless within such period the President shall order the contrary.

SECTION 11. Power over Aliens under the General Principles of International Law.—The President shall exercise with respect to aliens in the Philippines such powers as are recognized by the generally accepted principles of international law." 

Again, sounds justifiable knowing that for the safety and security of the country the government has to regulate its subjects inclduing those of foreigners and that includes punishing them for supporting a cause Filipinos desired for. Actually they did it at Thomas Van Beerzum after the latter, also a concerned foreigner, participated in a demonstration. The system obviously finds it interfering in internal affairs as people, be it Fox, Beerzum, or any other concerned foreigner sought the status of a country far from the usual presentation the system offers to them.

But despite all the legalisms (which mostly politically driven), people should realise that the action taken by the system against a concerned nun is driven by the idea of silencing dissent be it the Filipino or the Foreign. Duterte hath even admitted in his speech that the order for Sr. Fox's investigation was accordance to his will. All in all, as what Gerardo Lanuza said:

"Religious people, friars and nuns, can choose to live peacefully and silently in their convents. But some of them choose to live and walk in solidarity with the workers, urban poor, and farmers. The harassment and deportation threat against Sister Patricia Fox, NDS, a volunter for Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, reminds us of Latin America and Marcos Martial Law in the seventies when thousands of religious were liquidated by death squads of Latin American dictators. State fascism cannot silence the prophets of our society!"

And if foreigners are meant not to interfere in so-called "national interests", then wasn't Duterte's ruling PDP-Laban's engagements with the Chinese Communist Party in Manila some two months ago with Party Vice Minister Guo Yezhou present was in itself a "political activity"? If not hearing Duterte's statement claiming himself to be a nationalist, but he seemed willing to sell the country out to foreign plunderers.

Or as what Sama-samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo (Artists’ Alliance for the Movement for Genuine Agrarian Reform) or SAKA, said in its statement:

"He has welcomed those who seek ownership and control of the Philippines. He continues to militarize the countryside with US assistance to maintain the export-oriented hacienda system. He peddles our natural resources to China through lopsided loans and dubious public-private partnerships. Alongside these, his regime facilitates the complete foreign ownership of domestic territory—including agricultural and ancestral land—through charter change. Duterte even literally sang a love song for Trump—a domestic fascist entertaining a foreign fascist."

Anyway, if supporting the poor in its radical form is subversion, what Sr. Fox did is as same as Fr. Favali, or any other missionary or religious whose calling, coupled by concern for their surrounding, became a drivel in their participation such as a "politicised" activity. And as a concerned citizen, this person is ought to say that the system has to invest on legality enough to justify their means to arrest and deport, otherwise will end as same as Favali, Tentorio, or any concerned foreigner who, out of their desire to help the people, made themselves in cahoota with the order whom supposed to adhere in human rights and social justice.