House justice panel approves bill granting Filipino citizenship to Ginebra import Brownlee

The House justice panel on Wednesday approved a measure granting Filipino citizenship to American basketball player Justin Donta Brownlee which is a step towards making him eligible to play for the Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball team.

This developed after the panel unanimously approved House Bill 825 authored by Representative Mikee Romero of 1-Pacman party-list.

Brownlee, who was physically present during the hearing, thanked the lawmakers in Filipino as he gave them assurance he will help make the Philippine basketball team better.

"Maraming salamat po," Brownlee, a two-time Best Import Awardee of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as an import for Ginebra San Miguel, said.

"I have had 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 added.

Brownlee, who has been playing for Ginebra since 2016, has helped the PBA team win five PBA championships. —KG, GMA Integrated News