Representatives from the “Makabayan bloc” said that the arrest of Sister Patricia Fox last Monday was based on wrong information passed to Malacañang.
“Never in any of the 27 years na si Sister Fox ay naging speaker sa anumang mga rally. Never in her 27 years did she articulate anti-government statements,” Anakpawis party-list Representative Ariel Casilao said at a press briefing on Thursday.
Casilao added that Fox is a very gentle person inside and out, and one who is never temperamental. He said that Fox’s work is not promoting rebellious sentiments, rather, a part of her task as a missionary living in a foreign place.
The lawmaker theorized that Malacañang confused Fox for a different foreign individual after President Rodrigo Duterte said that Fox was probed because of ‘disorderly conduct’.
READ: Duterte says he ordered Aussie nun’s probe
They were referring to Giocomo Filibeck, a staunch critic of Duterte who is from a Socialist Party in the European Union. Filibeck was blocked from entering the country and was deported by Bureau of Immigration.
Distortions, diversions
Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said that Duterte has distorted definitions of having a shameless mouth and an intervening personality, when he attributed those to Fox. De Jesus said that Fox’s reaction was in lieu of “international solidarity”.
“Napaka-ironic, ’di ba? Kasi kung sino ‘yong nagbubuga ng mga salita na anti-mamamayan, anti-women, anti-mahirap, ay masahol pa sa pagde-describe sa kanyang bunganga,” de Jesus said.
On the other hand, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said that Duterte is using insinuations of nationalism and protection of sovereignty to cover up other issues pressed against his administration.
“Bistado na si Pangulong Duterte at ‘yang kanyang istilo, natutuklasan niya lang ang kanyang ‘nasyonalismo’ kapag napupuna ang kanyang human rights record,” Tinio said.