Senate OKs bill granting Philippine citizenship to Marañon, Kouame on final reading

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the measures granting Philippine citizenship to Spanish football player Bienvenido Morejon Marañon and Ivorian basketball player Angelo "Ange" Kouame.

During its session, the chamber unanimously approved House Bills 8631 and 8632, taking into consideration Senate Bills 1391, and 1982 and 2058, respectively, granting Philippine citizenship to the two athletes.

The granting of Philippine citizenship to Marañon and Kouame would allow them to play for the national football and basketball teams, respectively.

Senator Richard Gordon, who sponsored the two measures, said the naturalization process “values the opportunity to become more closely knit to the fabric of Philippine society."

"We are excited for them to be naturalized because they have proven that they really want to be Filipinos, but they also have to be exemplary, to be an inspiration to the Filipinos," he added.

Marañon came to the Philippines in May 2015 and played for Ceres Negros Football Club, one of the teams in the Philippines Football League. He was named top scorer and awarded as best import player in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

In pushing for the approval of the measure, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who authored Senate Bill 1391, said Marañon "has come to love the country and its people" in the five years that he has been playing football in the Philippines.

"He also aspires to represent the Philippines as part of the national team vying in international competitions, and make the country known as one of the top teams in the world of football," he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara, who filed Senate Bill 1892, said Kouame is an asset to Philippine basketball.

During the UAAP Season 82, Kouame averaged 12.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, and 1.4 assists for the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

“Kouame is primed to make a significant contribution to Philippine basketball. He is ready to play for the national team. More importantly, he is more than willing to represent our country,” Angara said.

“Ange is still very young and his game is still developing. This early we have already seen how good he is playing in the UAAP. He will only improve with his continued training at the hands of our very capable coaching staff and trainers in Gilas Pilipinas,” Angara added.

The House of Representatives has already approved its counterpart of the two Senate measures on third and final reading.—AOL, GMA News