The naturalization of Ivorian Angelo Kouame and Spaniard Bienve Marañon got the nod of the Senate’s Committee on Justice.
In an online forum headed by committee chairman Dick Gordon, they were able to pass Senate Bill no. 1692 which seeks naturalization for Kouame and SB no. 1391 for Marañon.
As a test, Gordon asked Marañon and Kouame to sing Lupang Hinirang, which they did.
The bills now move on to the first reading. After three readings, it will then be up to President Rodrigo Duterte to sign the bills that will make the two Filipino citizens.
“We need fresh blood. He’s one of the more exciting players in Ateneo and they’ve been unbeatable with Ange Kouame there in the middle. He would be a wonderful addition to our Philippine national team Gilas Pilipinas,” said SB 1692 author Sen. Sonny Angara.
“Angelo Kouame is a mobile big man, he can really defend. He can even defend the much smaller guard on the pick and roll and that’s very important now in the game of basketball.”
Sen. Migz Zubiri, on the other hand, is the author of SB 1391.
Last February 17, the house counterparts of the senate bills were passed.
