Camille Naredo

San Miguel import and naturalization candidate Bennie Boatwright during their PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup quarterfinal game against Rain or Shine, May 15, 2026 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. PBA Media

San Miguel import and naturalization candidate Bennie Boatwright during their PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup quarterfinal game against Rain or Shine, May 15, 2026 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Article (news)

PBA Season 50

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779796286350PBA Image1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="San Miguel import and naturalization candidate Bennie Boatwright during their PBA Season 50 Commissioner&#x27;s Cup quarterfinal game against Rain or Shine, May 15, 2026 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. PBA Media" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">San Miguel import and naturalization candidate Bennie Boatwright during their PBA Season 50 Commissioner&#x27;s Cup quarterfinal game against Rain or Shine, May 15, 2026 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.<em> PBA Media</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Bennie Boatwright’s bid for Philippine naturalization moved a step closer to approval after House Bill No. 6639 passed its second reading in the Senate on Tuesday.</p><p>During Session No. 68, Acting Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva moved to open the period of interpolation with bill sponsor Francis Pangilinan to further deliberate Boatwright’s proposed naturalization to officially play for Gilas Pilipinas.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/5/6/senate-tackles-gilas-prospect-boatwright-s-naturalization-bid-1648">READ: Senate tackles Gilas prospect Boatwright&#x27;s naturalization bid</a></div><p>Villanueva raised questions regarding the broader policies governing naturalization, particularly on how prospective applicants should be evaluated.</p><p>“Meron po bang parte sa panukalang batas na ito na nagsasabi na hindi lang pwedeng i-take for granted ang citizenship, kundi dapat i-embrace din niya ang character ng pagiging isang Pilipino?” Villanueva asked.</p><p>Pangilinan clarified that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) initially identifies players being considered for naturalization.</p><p>He added that once a proposal reaches Congress, lawmakers thoroughly examine the intentions of the applicant — an approach he said was also applied in Boatwright’s case.</p><p>“We made this clear during the hearings. Senator Jinggoy Estrada was also asking about Boatwright’s intentions of residing in the Philippines,” Pangilinan said.</p><p>“So therefore, yes. There has to be not simply a commitment to play basketball for the country, but also to embrace what it means to be Filipino, and we were convinced,” he added.</p><p>Senator Rodante Marcoleta also joined the interpolation, raising concerns about the issue of allegiance should Boatwright become a Filipino citizen.</p><p>“Citizenship is one, allegiance is another,” Marcoleta said. “How do we measure the allegiance of a prospective person to acquire citizenship? Is it because we have a chance to win one game or two? That we want to shine in one sport?”</p><p>“Yung allegiance po would take the place of patriotism. One who has the ability to do something more for the Philippines. If that citizenship is granted, he should also be prepared for the country. Na-measure po ba natin yun? Parang napakanipis po ng justification?” he added.</p><p>Pangilinan responded that those concerns were also discussed extensively during previous hearings, assuring lawmakers that Boatwright’s application went beyond basketball.</p><p>“I agree that contributions to a championship team should not be the only basis for citizenship,” Pangilinan said. “So we made sure, through our questions, to determine his willingness to embrace Filipino culture, to settle down in the Philippines, and whether he associated himself with Filipinos and Filipino-Americans while in the US.”</p><p>Following the interpolation, Villanueva moved for the bill’s approval on second reading, which was subsequently approved by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda.</p><p>House Bill No. 6639 must still pass third and final reading before it can be transmitted to Malacañang Palace for approval.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HS8xABc0kb0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Bennie Boatwright’s bid for Philippine naturalization moved a step closer to approval after House Bill No. 6639 passed its second reading in the Senate on Tuesday.</p>

Bennie Boatwright’s bid for Philippine naturalization moved a step closer to approval after House Bill No. 6639 passed its second reading in the Senate on Tuesday.

Marcoleta seeks stricter scrutiny as Boatwright naturalization bill passes 2nd reading

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Marcoleta seeks stricter scrutiny as Boatwright naturalization bill passes 2nd reading

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 26, 2026 07:54 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

ABSSports

Senate

Bennie Boatwright

Gilas Pilipinas

Kiko Pangilinan

Rodante Marcoleta

Joel Villanueva

FIBA

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