Brownlee's naturalization hurdles initial step, passes first reading

Justin Brownlee’s bid to become a Filipino and someday play for the national team took a huge step forward on Wednesday, Nov. 16, after the House Committee on Justice gave its approval in the first reading of House Bill No. 825.

The bill, sponsored by 1Pacman partylist representative Mikee Romero and aimed at giving the resident Ginebra import a Filipino citizenship, was approved by committee chairman Negros Occidental 4th District Rep. Juliet Marie de Leon Ferrer.

Several government agencies invited in the hearing such as the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bureau of Immigration made no objection to Brownlee's naturalization as the entire hearing only lasted about 30 minutes.

The bill will then be passed to the Committee on Rules and House of Approval for the second and final reading within one to two weeks before it gets forwarded to the Senate Committee on Justice.

“It just seems it would be great to be part of the country and just keep helping out to be part of the national team. Hopefully I can just be an inspiration to people and kids and help better the basketball here and to just do whatever I can to be a good citizen,” said Brownlee who was wearing a Barong Tagalog during the hearing and was accompanied by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios and Gilas Pilipinas Pilipinas team manager Butch Antonio

In his sponsorship speech, Romero highlighted Brownlee’s decorated career in the PBA where he has won five championships and two Best Import Awards while also noting the Ginebra import’s desire to make the country his permanent home and represent the Philippines in the international competition.

Brownlee’s naturalization papers hope to get the approval from both of the Senate and the House before the session takes their break and in time for the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers where Brownlee is pressed to take the naturalized player spot in the roster.