BROWNLEE ALMOST THERE Justin Brownlee’s naturalization bid hurdled the initial step in the Senate with the Committee on Justice approving on first reading the bill seeking to grant the Gilas Pilipinas prospect Philippine citizenship.
Brownlee, wearing a polo barong, appeared before the panel chaired by Sen. Francis Tolentino to reiterate his desire to become Filipino in the hearing on Senate Bill 1336 co-authored by Senators Bong Go and Ronald dela Rosa.
The Senate committee approval came five days after a counterpart measure at the House of Representatives, House Bill 825, breezed through first reading in the primary committee.
The Brownlee bills will have to go through second and third readings in both chambers next.
With the support of the legislators, basketball officials are hoping to have Brownlee as a fullfledged Filipino in time for Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA World Cup Qualifiers home matches against Lebanon and Jordan in February.
Gilas team manager Butch Antonio, who accompanied Brownlee in the hearing along with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Sonny Barrios and legal counsel Atty. Aga Francisco, attested to Brownlee’s commitment to Gilas.
“Even if hindi siya makakalaro in the fifth window, he still insisted on practicing with the team. He was part of the scouting and mimicked the star player of Jordan to help them prepare,” he shared to the Senate committee.
Brownlee attended the hearing the morning after Ginebra’s game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
He responded with “Opo, sir” as he answered queries from Tolentino, Dela Rosa, Go and Sen. Joel Villanueva, and expressed how much he wants to reciprocate the love he’s getting from Filipinos.
“Hopefully I can give some of that love back by wearing the Philippine flag on my jersey,” Brownlee said.
Tolentino said Brownlee’s bid to become a Filipino citizen may secure the blessing of the Senate by December.
“So give and take, since we’re done with the budget hearings, probably by December we can have some progress on this, sans any opposition,” said Tolentino. The senators will tackle the matter in the plenary. During the hearing, Dela Rosa manifested and asked Brownlee whether he could help in advocating the government campaign for illegal drugs, which was a priority of the previous administration.
“Once a Filipino citizen, I just would like to make a personal appeal that since he is being idolized by young Filipino people. Can I ask him to help me advocate for the anti-drug program? Because he will be a very good example to the Filipino youth,” Dela Rosa manifested. “Opo, for sure.” said Brownlee.
– Cecille Suerte Felipe