MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday approved two bills seeking to grant Filipino citizenship to Spanish football striker Bienvenido Maraon and Ivorian basketball player Angelo Kouame.
Voting 23-0, the chamber approved House Bill No. 8631, which seeks Maraon’s naturalization.
The same vote was cast on House Bill No. 8632 granting Filipino citizenship to Kouame.
Kouame, who hails from West Africa’s Ivory Coast, is poised to join the Philippines in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Games later in the year.
Naturalization is one of the steps required for the athletes to compete under the Philippine flag.
The country got a ticket to the OQT as th…
Keep on reading: PH citizenship of Marañon, Kouame secures Senate nod