Senate panel OKs bills granting Philippine citizenship to Marañon, Kouame

The Senate committee on justice and human rights approved on Wednesday bills seeking to grant Philippine citizenship to athletes Bienvenido Morejon Marañon and Kakou Ange Franck Williams Kouame.

During the hearing, Gordon, committee chairperson, said the naturalization is a privilege and not a right and the applicant must have moral values and should be free from any legal impediment.

“Maging Filipino sa isip, salita at gawa; real exemplars of what Filipinos want to be: winners, gentlemen, proud of the country they have chosen. More than their skills in sports, Kouame and Marañon would be excellent and upright citizens as they already wholeheartedly embraced our country’s culture and its people that the Philippines has become their home,” said Gordon.

Bienvenido came to the Philippines in May 2015 and played for Ceres Negros Football Club, one of the teams in the Philippines Football League (PFL). He was named top scorer and awarded as best import player in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Kouame, on the other hand, is a student-athlete from the Ateneo de Manila University. He was the Rookie of the Year in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81.

“The process of naturalization, which is a national interest, values the opportunity to become more closely knit to the fabric of Philippine society. We are excited for them to be naturalized because they have proven that they really want to be Filipinos, but they also have to be exemplary, to be an inspiration to the Filipinos,” said Gordon.

In supporting the bill, Senator Sonny Angara, who also chairs the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), said Kuoame would be a “wonderful addition” to the national team.

Last Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the bills seeking to grant Philippine citizenship to Kouame and Marañon.—AOL, GMA News