Duterte signs law granting Filipino citizenship to football player Bienvenido Marañon

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law granting Filipino citizenship to Spanish football player Bienvenido Marañon.

Signed on July 2, Republic Act 11570 requires Marañon to take the Oath of Allegiance to the Philippine Republic before a duly authorized officer.

The Bureau of Immigration shall then issue a certificate of naturalization to Marañon. The law shall take effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

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.

"He dreams of building a family in this country, and raising his children surrounded by the kindness, humility, and hospitality that Filipinos are known for," said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, one of the law’s authors.

"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.—AOL, GMA News