Ivorian Angelo Kouame’s naturalization hurdled the second reading in the Senate, Tuesday.
The senators approved Senate Bills 1892 and 2058 filed by Senators Sonny Angara and Dick Gordon, respectively, while Angara proposed that the bills granting Kouame and Spaniard Bienve Marañon Filipino citizenship be effective immediately once published in the Official Gazette and a major daily.
“We’d like to thank Sen. Sonny Angara. His amendments are key amendments that would really be able to implement this law immediately and also these players can play immediately as well in international competitions which are at the end of the month,” said Senate Majority Leader Migs Zubiri.
Some of the competitions slated for Kouame and Gilas are the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the final window of the Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Gilas were also invited to join the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup set on April 11.
Another reading is needed before Kouame’s naturalization is passed to Malacanang.
Both Kouame and Maranon must also take an Oath of Allegiance in the presence of a Bureau of Immigration official.
