MANILA — The naturalization bid of former San Miguel Beermen import Bennie Boatwright will have to begin anew in the 20th Congress, according to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio.
In a recent interview with Abante Sports Now, Panlilio confirmed that the process needs to be restarted after it was left unacted upon during the 19th Congress.
“We are restarting Bennie Boatwright’s naturalization process with the 20th Congress,” Panlilio said.
Under Philippine law, once Congress adjourns sine die or formally ends, all pending bills and resolutions that are not approved automatically lapse and do not carry over to the next Congress.
If lawmakers still want to pursue them, they need to re-file the measures as new bills in the 20th Congress. From there, the bills must start all over again in the legislative process.
Boatwright’s naturalization process was first initiated in 2024 by former senator and now Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, but it was halted after the 6-foot-10 forward tore his Achilles that year.
Now fully recovered, the 29-year-old Boatwright is set to resume his career as an import for Fubon Braves in Taiwan.
Under existing rules, Congress may grant Philippine citizenship to select individuals through a special law, allowing foreigners to become naturalized Filipinos.
This process requires the usual legislative steps — three readings in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, majority approval in both chambers, and then presidential signing.
Boatwright emerged as a prime candidate for Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized player slot after leading the San Miguel Beermen to the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship over the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots./PN
