The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has denied the appeal of Dutch National Otto Rudolf De Vries on the cancellation of his residence visa.
In an order dated February 26, the 3-man BI Board of Commissioners (BOC) denied De Vries’ request to reverse the ruling on the cancelation of his Section 13 permanent residence visa.
In his motion for reconsideration submitted on February 8, the Dutch activist stated that the BI BOC order is without valid and legal cause. His appeal, however, was denied for failure to provide evidence to reverse said decision.
It can be recalled that in November, the BI canceled his visa, following information from government intelligence sources that he actively participated in several protest rallies in the country.
The Dutch activist has reportedly been in the country since September 2019, and has been spotted in rallies in Mendiola, and Pasig, among others.
Apart from the cancelation of his visa, De Vries has been ordered to immediately leave the country. De Vries has been tagged as an undesirable alien, and his name has likewise been included in the BI’s blacklist.
BI upholds decision ordering Dutch activist to leave
According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, the rule for foreign nationals is simple and clear. “There were photos of him engaged in several rallies in the country. Foreigners have no business joining such activities as it is a clear violation of their conditions of stay,” said Morente. “Time and time again we remind foreign nationals not to engage in partisan political activities. There are no exemptions, even permanent residence visas may be canceled for said violation,” he added.
Otto Rudolf De Vries’ case was similar to that of Sister Patricia Fox, an Australian missionary. She was also ordered deported three years ago, also for alleged violation of immigration laws.
Fox, who is now in Melbourne is a member of Sisters of Our Lady of Sion. She was a missionary in the Philippines for almost 30 years before she was deported in November 2018.
BI operatives arrested her on April 16, 2018, for alleged violation of her stay in the country. She has allegedly taken part in protest actions by farmers and was doing a similar illegal act at the time when immigration operatives served her the mission order.
Source: Bureau of Immigration, Republic of the Philippines