Panel OKs bill granting citizenship to Brownlee

THE House of Representatives’ Justice Committee on Wednesday has approved House Bill 825 which will grant Philippine citizenship to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel import Justin Brownlee.

According to the bill’s author, 1-Pacman Rep. Michael “Mikee” Romero, “Brownlee has brought enormous pride and joy to the Philippine Basketball Association, as well as to all basketball enthusiasts in the country.”

Cavite Fourth District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. sought approval after the Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Immigration did not raise any concerns about his naturalization.

In the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup, when he helped Barangay Ginebra win its first championship in eight years, Brownlee made his first impression on Filipinos.

Ginebra won four additional titles with Brownlee in tow such as the 2017 Governors’ Cup, 2018 Commissioner’s Cup, 2019 Governors’ Cup and 2021 Governors’ Cup.

“The Philippine National Team, Gilas Pilipinas, will benefit greatly from having him on board,” Romero said.

Brownlee pledged not to act in an unsportsmanlike manner in the league when he stood before the House Committee.

“I have received a lot of love from the fans and the people here, and it would be great to be a part of the country, keep helping out as much as I can,” Brownlee said to the lawmakers.

The bill still has to be presented at the plenary, where lawmakers will vote three times on it before submitting it to the Senate.

Starting with the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which is headed by Sen. Francis Tolentino, the procedure must be approved three times in the Senate’s plenary session.

A certificate of naturalization will subsequently be given to Brownlee when he takes the oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines.