30 RP NEWS PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY July 16 - 31 , 2018
AUSTRALIAN missionary Patricia Fox yesterday asked the Bureau of Immigration ( BI ) to reconsider its decision to expel her and to bar her return to the country .
In a motion for reconsideration , the 71-year-old Fox said the BI ’ s order expelling her from the country gave weight to President Duterte ’ s previous pronouncement labeling her an “ undesirable alien .”
She said the order “ would readily show that it is based on one primordial consideration -- the false and unfounded statement of the President that the respondent is supposedly foul-mouthed who has criticized the policies of the Duterte administration even when there is no evidence to support his claim .”
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Fox may stay in the country
RP News and More ... Aussie nun appeals deportation order
longer because the deportation order is not immediately executory .
“ The deportation order cannot be enforced until it becomes final . With the filing of the appeal , the deportation will not be executed ,” he said .
He also said that with the filing of the motion for reconsideration , the implementation of the July 19 deportation order is suspended .
Guevarra said if the BI denies Fox ’ appeal , the nun can still file an appeal with his office or even to the Office of the President . The issue could even reach the courts in case Fox decides to file a petition questioning the deportation order after all administrative remedies are exhausted .
“ Any adverse ruling of the DOJ or the Office of the President may further be reviewed by the courts ,” he
said .
In ordering her deportation , the BI said it found substantial evidence that Fox violated the conditions of her missionary visa .
It said that sometime in 2013 , 2016 and 2017 , Fox engaged in political activities such as demanding the release of political prisoners and participated in a press conference protesting alleged plunder in Mindanao .
In her motion for reconsideration , Fox said the BI based its deportation order on a report of its intelligence officer , Melody Penelope Gonzales , which detailed alleged acts or conduct that made Fox an undesirable alien . She said the acts listed were not put in proper context and were the same acts she has been engaging in in the past 27 years she has been in the country . She also said some of those acts happened under the previous administration which did not sanction her .
She also said an intelligence report used by the BI , including photographs , were mostly downloaded from social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter .
“ Agent Gonzales relied on various photographs , downloaded mostly from the Internet and social media sites and concluded that the respondent is engaged in illegal activities and that she allegedly violated the terms of her missionary visa . This Honorable Office , in effect , swallowed hook , line and sinker Agent Gonzales ’ conclusion , and on that basis , ordered the deportation of her respondent ,” Fox said . ( ASHZEL HACHERO , Malaya )
Kuwait blogger stands by her comments against OFWs
Kuwaiti social media influencer Sondos Al-Qattan earned the ire of the public after expressing her dismay on government regulations that allow overseas Filipino workers to keep their passports and have one rest day per week .
In a video released on Instagram last July 10 , Al-Qattan said ( translated
At least four Supreme Court ( SC ) Associate Justices will vie for the position of chief justice that was left vacant with the ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno .
Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin , Diosdado Peralta , Andres Reyes Jr . accepted their nomination while Teresita Leonardo-de Castro is expected to do the same on Thursday .
Bersamin submitted the required documents on Tuesday to the Judicial
into English ):
“ The new laws that have been passed are pathetic . Honestly , I disagree . For [ a maid ] to take a day off every week , that ’ s four days a month . Those are the days that she ’ ll be out . And we don ’ t know what she ’ ll be doing on those days , with her passport on her .”
“ How can you have a ‘ servant ’ in your house who gets to keep their passport with them ? And what ’ s worse is they have one day off every week .”
“ If they ran away and went back to their country , who ’ ll refund me ? Honestly , I disagree with this law . I don ’ t want a Filipino maid anymore .”
Her controversial remarks have led to cosmetic brands dropping her as an endorser .
Despite the criticism , Al-Qattan remains unapologetic , saying that she has the right to keep her employer ’ s passport based on their “ Kafala System .”.”
The “ Kafala System ” allows Middle Easterns to exert “ ownership ” over their migrant workers . Media outlets and citizens have described it as a form of “ modern-day slavery .”
Al-Qattan was referring to the
4 SC justices to vie for chief justice post
and Bar Council .
Bersamin , de Castro and Peralta were appointed to the high court by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo . Reyes was an appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte .
Bersamin , the fifth most senior magistrate of the high court , penned the decision granting bail to former senator Juan Ponce Enrile and led the declaration of the pork barrel of lawmakers and the Disbursement Acceleration Program ( DAP ) of the Aquino administration as unconstitutional .
Peralta , the fourth most senior justice , is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas College of Law .
He served as prosecutor of Manila and later became a judge in Quezon City . He also served as presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan .
He penned the controversial ruling allowing the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani .
Reyes meanwhile served as a judge in Makati City and San Mateo , agreement signed between the Philippines and Kuwait last May allowing OFWs to keep their passports and have rest days .
The document , titled “ Agreement on the Employment of Domestic Workers between the Philippines and Kuwait ,” was a result of a diplomatic row that occurred over the abuse of Filipino workers and the death of one OFW .
It calls for Kuwait to provide OFWs with food , clothing , health insurance and standard labor contracts . Filipinos are also entitled to use their cellphones , keep their passports and have a day off .
Filipino Marita Margaret said on Twitter that Al-Qattan has no right to “ belittle anyone .”
She pointed out that Filipinos sacrifice a lot when they work overseas and there have been many reports of abuse from foreign employers .
According to her , “ I really do hope that you realize how much our fellow Filipinos go through . The mere thought of them leaving their family and safety for money is [ like ] being enslaved already .” ( J . Malasig , Interaksyon )
Rizal . He was later appointed justice in the Court of Appeals .
Reyes penned the ruling denying the petition for bail of pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim-Napoles .
De Castro , the third most senior justice of the SC served as a justice at the Sandiganbayan .
It was she who penned the ruling that convicted former president Joseph Estrada .
The JBC will hold its first deliberation on the nominees on August 3 .( J . Canlas , TMT )
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