Nationwide round-up

Australian nun appeals deportation order before DoJ

AFP

AUSTRALIAN MISSIONARY nun Patricia Fox has filed a Petition for Review before the Justice department, seeking a reversal of the deportation order issued against her by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Inakyat natin ngayon sa Department of Justice (DoJ) ‘yung kaso ni Sister Pat na deportation on the ground na siya raw allegedly ay isang undesirable alien (We brought the deportation case of Sister Pat to the DoJ, which is based allegedly on the ground that she is an undesirable alien) for having participated in so-called political activities,” said Sister Fox’s lawyer, Kathy Panguban, during an interview with reporters on Monday.
Before filing the petition, the Australian nun also filed for a renewal of her missionary visa at the BI, which is “is set to expire this September 5,” according to her lawyer.
Ms. Panguban added that Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra told them that Ms. Fox can also opt to apply for a tourist visa, which they tried to clarify with the BI.
Ms. Fox said that the way the government has tried to deport her is “a chilling message I think to missionaries.” — Gillian M. Cortez

Duterte makes no apology on another rape remark

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Sunday defended his recent remark on the rape of “beautiful” women in Davao City, saying that “this is democracy, freedom of expression.” “Hindi ko naman sinabi ni-rape lahat ‘yan (I did not say that all of them were raped). But you are almost mesmerized or tempted kasi (because) that’s how you control yourself,” he said in a speech during his meeting with the Filipino community in Israel on Sunday night, Sept. 2. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo, in a statement on Monday, brushed aside the issue saying critics are just “nitpicking.”
“The human rights critics and PRRD’s detractors are nitpicking again and making a fuzz about a statement about many beautiful women being raped in Davao making it a basis for accusing him of misogyny.” He said the President’s critics “always distort the intended meaning” of his comments. “The President reveres his late mother and as Davao City Mayor had undertaken projects and measures protective of the rights of women and advancing their cause. As President he has given recognition to women of distinction by appointing them to his Cabinet and in other high offices in the government, the latest of which is putting a woman at the helm of a male dominated Supreme Court,” he added. — Arjay L. Balinbin