The naturalization of Ivorian Angelo Kouame and Spaniard Bienvenido Marañón have been approved by the Philippine Senate, Monday afternoon.
The upper chamber of congress unanimously approved House Bill No. 8631 (An act granting Philippine citizenship to Bienvenido Morjon Maranon) and No. 8632 (An act granting Philippine citizenship to Ange Franck Williams Kouame), 23-0.
The senators who voted were Franklin Drilon, Win Catchalian, Dick Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Ping Lacson, Kiko Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Tito Sotto, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Bato Dela Rosa, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe, Bong Revilla, Francis, Tolentino, and Cynthia Villar.
Copies of the bill were electronically transmitted to the senators last March 10.
This would mean that the approval of granting Filipino citizenship to Maranon and Kouame is now in the hands of Malacanang Palace as only the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte is needed to put the bills into law.
The House of Representatives approved the bills back in February 16.
With this, Kouame will most likely be available for Gilas come the Clark window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
