Delayed by Senate debacle, Fil-Am athletes' naturalization bills passed

MANILA, Philippines, June 18 ------ The Senate approved on third and final reading on Wednesday, June 17, bills granting Filipino citizenship to basketball player Bennie Boatwright and wrestler Matthew James Ramos, after the measures were delayed by the Senate leadership dispute that persisted since last month.

The bills were approved on the first day of the special session.

"Just to put on record, they were here three days straight, before we ended the session," Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said as he brought the bills to the floor for third reading.

The measures had been scheduled for third-reading approval in the first week of June, but did not move forward because the Senate failed to secure a quorum amid the absence of senators from the bloc of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano from June 1 to 3.

The naturalization bills seek to allow Boatwright and Ramos to represent the Philippines in international competitions.

Naturalization bids

Boatwright, a former PBA import, has been eyed as a possible Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player. The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said in 2024 that it had opened talks with him for a possible national team stint in future FIBA competitions.

Boatwright appeared before the Senate in May as his naturalization bid resumed. He was accompanied by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy and Gilas team manager Alfrancis Chua before the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Ramos, a Filipino-American wrestler, traces his Filipino roots to his father, Crisante Holanday Ramos, of Basista, Pangasinan. He has said he wants to represent the Philippines internationally.

During the Senate deliberations in May, lawmakers took up House Bill 6639, granting citizenship to Bennie Francois Boatwright III, and House Bill 6644, granting citizenship to Matthew James Ramos.

Who they are

Boatwright played for the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Commissioner's Cup and helped lead the team to a championship.

Ramos was described in Senate sponsorship materials as the 2022 U.S. Open champion at 57 kilograms and a wrestler who reached the 2022 NCAA Championship Round of 12 at 133 pounds.

Source: philstar.com