Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17") CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7416

Introduced by Representative Manuel Monsour T. Del Rosario IIL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Foreign-born and trained elite athletes have been contributing to the Olympic medal count
of many countries since as early as 1988 in a growing trend that blurs the national boundaries of
competition. These countries have been naturalizing foreign talents in order to achieve a
competitive advantage. The grant of citizenship to athletes is a recognition of the value that nations
place on medals.

In 2016, Congress granted former NBA player Andray Blatche Philippine citizenship,
expediting his eligibility for the qualifying rounds of the FIBA World Championships. Blatche’s
donning of the national colors was a key factor that enabled the Philippines to secure a berth in the
World Championships and restore the Philippines’ status in world basketball.

Our country has little to zero participation in the Olympic sport of wrestling. We have no
wrestlers that can compete in the international level. While our country has a rich talent pool for
the sport, we have a severe lack of wrestling programs, technology and training that could spur the
development of the sport in the country. Wrestling has not gained traction in the mainstream
consciousness of Filipinos. As such, wrestling is an area where foreign elite athletes can help
because of the skills they have developed through decades and centuries of culture that valued the
sport. One or two elite athletes can change the possibility of the Philippines doing well in a non-
traditional sport such as wrestling.

Egor Dmitriev, 27, is a talented and bemedalled freestyle wrestler from the Russian
Federation (Sakha Republic). He has placed in several events sanctioned by the United World
Wrestling (UWW), the governing body that oversees the sport of wrestling in the Olympics and
world championships. Some of Dmitirev’s notable accomplishments are as follows:

YEAR | RANK TOURNAMENT SITE
2016 Ist___| Zakharov Memorial Tournament __| Yakutsk, Russia
2015 Ist___| Kemerovo Open Kemerovo, Russia
2015 Ist__ | Dogan Invitational Tamir, Turkey
2015 2nd__| Shakhtersky Tournament Minsk, Belarus
2014 3rd___| Dmitriy Korkin Intemational Yakutsk, Russia
2014 3rd__| Russian University Nationals Smolensk, Russia
2012 3rd___| Russian Regional Championship __| Braynsk, Russia
2010 2nd _ | Dmitriy Korkin International Yakutsk, Russia
2009 2nd__| Skopie International Skopie, Macedonia



Dmitriev has expressed his desire to compete for the Philippine wrestling team should he be
granted citizenship. He has recently fulfilled UWW’s two-year non-compete policy for switching
nationalities. Given his accomplishments and coaching ability, granting Dmitriev Philippine
citizenship will be advantageous to our country both in the short-term and long-term. As a
competitor, our country can count on him to bring home medals from notable events such as the
World Championships and the Asian Games. As a coach, the sport of wrestling in the Philippines
will benefit from the transfer of technology ensuing from Dmitriev’s deep knowledge and skills
and wealth of experience in wrestling. At this time, he has already established good rapport with
our national coaches and athletes, and is currently in the Philippines by invitation, training with
and coaching our national wrestling team.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is fervently sought.

22D
[EL MONSOUR T. DEL ROSARIO III



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17") CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7416

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Manuel Monsour T. Del Rosario III

AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO EGOR DMITRIEV

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Grant of Philippine Citizenship. — Mr. Egor Dmitriev is hereby granted
Philippine citizenship with all the rights, privileges and prerogatives, as well as the duties and
obligations appurtenant thereto under the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of the
Philippines.

SEC. 2. Oath of Allegiance. — After the taking by Egor Dmitriev of his Oath of Allegiance
before an officer duly authorized for this purpose, and the registration of the same with the Bureau
of Immigration, Mr. Egor Dmitriev shall enter upon the full enjoyment of his Philippine
citizenship.

SEC. 3. Certification of Naturalization. — Upon registration of the Oath of Allegiance, the
Bureau of Immigration shall forthwith issue Mr. Egor Dmitriev’s Certification of Naturalization.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately upon publication in at least
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,