THE Senate is also scheduled to begin the naturalization proceedings of Justin Brownlee on Monday.
The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chaired by Sen. Francis Tolentino is set to conduct a hearing on Monday at 10 a.m. with Senate Bill 1336 or the granting of Filipino citizenship to Brownlee, as the agenda.
[READ: Brownlee will be a Filipino we can all be proud of: Cone]
The hearing comes just the morning after Barangay Ginebra faces TNT in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The committee is expected to pass on first reading the bill authored by Sen. Sonny Angara that seeks to naturalize Brownlee so the longtime Barangay Ginebra import can play for the Gilas Pilipinas national team in international competitions.
Last week, Brownlee took the initial step towards being naturalized as the House Committee on Justice approved on first reading House Bill 825 authored by Rep. Mikee Romero.
Both bills must reach third reading before it goes to a bicameral committee for possible revisions. Once ratified, it is sent to the President for signing into law.
The Senate and House are looking to speed up the process so that Brownlee can play for Gilas Pilipinas in the February window of the Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers.
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