Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
2nd Regular Session
HOusE BILL NO.m8
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Introduced by Deputy Speaker Roberto V. Puno
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Bennie Boatwright is a 27-year-old basketball player from Los Angeles, California, USA. As a
senior in high school, Mr. Boatwright averaged 27 points and 12 rebounds per game. In college,
he signed with the University of Southern California, where in his senior year, he averaged 18.2
points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
Stanch.ng at a mighty 6 feet 10 inches, Mr. Boatwight signed with the Sam Miguel Beermen in
December 2023 as the team's new import for the PEA Commissioner's Cup. Mr. Boatwright and
the Beermen eventually went on to claim the crown, with Mr. Boatwright tallying 19 points,13
rebounds, and eight assists in Game Six.
The International Basketball Federation , FIBA, defines a national basketball team as being
composed of 11 natural-born players and one naturalized player.  The Philippines has had a long
history of recruiting naturalized athletes to play for its national team as a way to improve its
global rankings. Various countries in Asia have utilized a pool of naturalized players to boost
their national team: Lebanon has Omari Spellman, James Youngblood, and Norvelle Pelle; Qatar
has Mke Lewis and Boney Watson; Japan has Josh HaITelson and Joshua Hawkinson; and Syria
lias Javion Coleman Blake, Brandon Peterson, and Amir Hintoii. Even Georgia, which we will be
playing against in the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs), naturalized Thad MCFadden
and Joe Thomasson, to joiii its pool of naturalized players.
In our country, there are currently 2 modes of acquiring citizenship:  1) by birth or Jus Sanguinis
(right of blood), which is the legal principle that, at birth, an indivjdunl acquires the nationality
of his/her parents; and 2) by naturalization.
Naturalization in the Philippines, in turn, may be conferredjudicially, administratively or
through legislative act. There are strict prerequisites for naturalization to be conferred judicially
and administratively. By legislation however, there are no such prerequisites. We in Congress
may, and in multiple occasions in the past already have, enacted naturalization legislation on the
basis of the athlete's exceptional merit and ability.
It is in this light that we are urging Congress to naturalize yet another player in the person of Mr.
Boatwright. Being only 27 years old, his naturalization is also aligned with the Samaliang


Basketbol ng Pilipinas' program of having a pool of talented naturalized players avallable, as do
other countries. And with M. Boatwright's outstanding talent in basketball coupled with his
eagerness to play for our flag, he will, undoubtedly, be an invaluable asset to our national
basketball team, and is certaln to bring pride and honor to our country.
Bestowing naturalization to athietes of exceptional merit and ability is indeed one unique and
concrete contribution of the House of Representative to Philippine sports in general and to
international basketball competitions in particular. The passage of this measure will continue this
honorable traditi on.
In view of the foregoing, the prompt passage of this bill is respectfully and urgently sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
2fld Regular Session
HousEBILLNo.10278
Introduced by Deputy Speaker Roberto V. Puno
AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO BENNIE FRANC0IS
B0ATWRIGHT Ill
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Representatives Of the Phllippi.mes in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Bennie Francois Boatwright Ill is hereby granted Philippine Citizenship with
all the rights, privileges, prerogatives, as well as duties and obligations appurtenant thereto, under
tlie Constitution and laws of the Republic of the Philippines.
SECTION  2.  Bernie  Francois  Boatwhght  Ill  shall  take  tlie  Oath  of Allealance  duly
authorized to administer the same. The Oath of Allegiance shall be registered with the Bureau of
Immigration.
SECTION 3 . Upon registration of the Oath of Allegiance, the Bureau of Immigration shall
issue a Certificate of Naturalizat].on to Bennie Francois Boatwright Ill who shall thereupon enter
in to the full enjoyment of Philippine Citizenship.
SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication jn the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,