House OKs Filipino citizenship for Ginebra import Brownlee on third reading

With 274 affirmative votes, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third reading a measure granting Philippine citizenship to Ginebra San Miguel import and American Justin Donta Brownlee.

This brings the cager a step closer to being eligible to play for Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers come February 2023.

The committee report on the measure, numbered House Bill 6224, noted that Brownlee has signified his intention to play for Gilas Pilipinas when the country hosts the FIBA Basketball World Cup next year and has proved his mettle in leading Ginebra to five Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) championships to go with this two PBA Best Import Awards.

“Aside from being an athlete, he (Brownlee) is actively supporting local sports programs, activities and community services in Filipino communities,” the committee report read.

“He embodies the Filipino values of perseverance, determination, and dedication to work in service to the country, and has a sincere desire to live in the Philippines as a Filipino citizen,” it added.

Brownlee, who has been playing in the PBA since 2016, has career averages of 28.9 points per game, 12 rebounds per game, 5.6 assists per game, 1.9 steals per game, and 1.7 blocks per game.

He is also the first PBA import to record over 400 three-point field goals made and ranks first among PBA imports for three-point field goals made with 404 as of July 24, 2022.

In addition, Brownlee ranks an all-time fifth among PBA imports in terms of scoring with 4,539 points as of April 2022.

In a separate statement, Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House’s approval of the measure is aimed at boosting the country’s FIBA campaign.

"This is the House's humble contribution to the national basketball team's quest for glory in the FIBA World Cup. Anything is possible if you put your heart into it. We commend Justin for his desire in joining Gilas Pilipinas to represent the Philippines that has been his home in this corner of the world," he said.

Prior to the third and final reading approval of his citizenship, Brownlee paid a courtesy call to Romualdez and gave the House leader a signed basketball.

House Bill 6224’s counterpart bill in the Senate is pending approval on third and final reading.

Once the bill granting Brownlee is passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, he will take an oath of allegiance to the Philippines before an officer duly authorized to administer such oath.

The same oath of allegiance will then be registered with the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Once the oath of allegiance is registered, BI will issue Certificate of Naturalization to Brownlee.—AOL, GMA Integrated News