April 19, 2018
Contemptuously disrespecting the 27 years of dedicated service of Australian missionary Sr. Patricia Fox, 71, who generously helped farmers, indigenous people and other Filipino mass organizations, the Bureau of Immigration arrested and detained Sr. Patricia Fox on April 16. Immigration authorities arrested her on the allegations by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) that she participated in anti-government rallies. Much worse, President Duterte himself declared he had ordered the arrest of Sr. Patricia.
Sr. Patricia denied joining anti-government rallies. “These were not anti-government rallies. As a religious, I have been joinig pro-human rights rallies, for farmers, for their land rights, to release politiaal prisoners,” she stated.
Sr. Patricia was made to sleep on the floor inside the Bureau of Immigration – Civil Security Unit. Suffering from back pains, she was provided only one blanket as a mattress, but no extra blanket to protect her from the cold draft of the air-conditining unit.
She could sleep for only two hours. She had to take three pain relief pills to ease her back pain. Her detention resulted in her failure to take her injection Monday night for her back pain.
Although she was released the follwoing day, the Bureau of Immigration stated that she has to undergo investigation for possible deportation. The BI is holding her passport.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines vigorously condemns this violation of Sr. Patricia’s basic human rights. It is a flagrant violation of the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The Duterte regime must be held responsible for the shameful treatment and harassment of Sr. Patricia Fox. Her right to continue her dedicated service to the Filipino people must be respected.
LUIS G. JALANDONI
Member, National Executive Committee
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
https://www.ndfp.org/ndfp-condemns-shameful-treatment-of-sr-patricia-fox-by-the-duterte-regime/
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