THE Senate has approved on second reading the bill seeking the naturalization of basketball player Bennie Boatwright.
The measure was approved after bill author Sen. Francis Pangilinan responded to questions from Senators Joel Villanueva and Rodante Marcoleta at the Senate plenary on Tuesday.
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The bills will now be up for voting at the Senate for passage on third and final reading, which is more of a formality before the final copy will be forwarded to the President, who can either sign it or let it lapse into law.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is eyeing Boatwright to become a Filipino in time for the 2026 Asian Games, and possibly join forces with Justin Brownlee for Gilas Pilipinas' title defense in the quadriennial multisport event.
Pangilinan pointed out the need for the bill to be passed due to the stiff competition Gilas faces overseas, sharing that other countries have multiple naturalized players at their disposal including Japan with 12.
During an interpolation, Marcoleta called for stricter measures in granting Filipino citizenship through naturalization, to which Pangilinan agreed.
“Sana meron pa pong iba sanang mga pamantayan na magagamit natin,” said Marcoleta. “Sana sa mga ganitong instances ay susuriin natin mabuti para sa ganun, hindi lilitaw na napakadali nating i-grant ang citizenship na para sa atin ay bagay na dapat kinakailangang maging masinop tayo at maging mahigpit sapagkat ang pagiging Pilipino po ay hindi basta binibigay ng kahit kanino.”
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