Bill naturalizing Justin Brownlee approved by House justice committee

Justin Brownlee is now a step closer to naturalization. Dennis Acosta (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Justin Brownlee placed one foot into gaining Filipino citizenship after the House Committee on Justice approved House Bill 825, which grants naturalization to the Ginebra import.

Brownlee witnessed the approval in person as he attended the hearing on Wednesday, and as expected, he wore a barong.

No congressman objected Brownlee's naturalization bid in the committee level, and the bill will now be up for approval in the plenary.

If approved in the congressional level, it will now be the Senate's turn to discuss Brownlee's naturalization.

Senator Bato Dela Rosa filed Senate Bill 1336, which also eyes naturalization to Brownlee.

If approved as well, the bill will only need a signature from President Bongbong Marcos to enact it into law.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas hopes that Brownlee will be naturalized just in time for the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers next February.

House justice committee chief Juliet Ferrer of the fourth district of Negros Occidental wants at least the Congress version of the bill approved before the House of Representatives closes shop on Dec. 14 for the Christmas break.

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