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Justice
BillSBN-159520th Congress

Philippine Citizenship to Bennie Francois Boatwright Iii

In committee Filed Dec 10, 2025
◷ Where it standsIn Committee
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on December 10, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Rules; transferred to the Committee on Justice and Human Rights on January 28, 2026. The bill has been consolidated and substituted in the committee report, with no recorded action since May 13, 2026.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Moderate

The bill is relevant to sports and citizenship, impacting the basketball community and fans.

Bennie Francois Boatwright IIIPhilippine Basketball AssociationFilipino basketball fans
Timeliness
Routine

The bill addresses citizenship for a sports figure but does not respond to an urgent need or deadline.

Affects you ifBasketball fansSports enthusiastsPBA playersGilas Pilipinas supporters
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
3.0/ 10
Long title

Philippine Citizenship to Bennie Francois Boatwright Iii

Plain-language summary
✦AI Summary

This bill seeks to grant Philippine citizenship to Bennie Francois Boatwright III, a professional basketball player who has contributed to Philippine sports, particularly through his participation in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

What this bill actually requires
RequiresGrant Philippine citizenship to Bennie Francois Boatwright III.
RequiresRequire Mr. Boatwright to take the Oath of Allegiance.
RequiresIssue a Certificate of Naturalization upon registration of the Oath of Allegiance.
DeadlineEffectivity after 15 days of publication.
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

Bennie Francois Boatwright III is not a Philippine citizen.

This bill

Bennie Francois Boatwright III will be granted Philippine citizenship.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

Bennie Francois Boatwright III is a professional basketball player who has made significant contributions to Philippine sports, particularly through his participation in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He joined the San Miguel Beermen in December 2023.

Source · full text
Issue areas
JusticePhilippine citizenshipNaturalizationBennie BoatwrightPBASports

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
Dec 10, 2025Senate
Introduced by Senators PIA S. CAYETANO, ALAN PETER "COMPAÑERO" S. CAYETANO and CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO;
Dec 10, 2025Senate
Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committee on RULES;
Jan 28, 2026Senate
Transferred from the Committee on RULES to the Committee on JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS;
Jan 28, 2026Senate
Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committee on JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS;
Mar 3, 2026Senate
Conducted COMMITTEE MEETINGS/HEARINGS;
May 6, 2026Senate
Conducted COMMITTEE MEETINGS/HEARINGS;
May 6, 2026Senate
Returned and submitted by the Committee on JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS per Committee Report No. 61, recommending that it be considered in HBN-6639;
May 13, 2026Senate
Committee Report Calendared for Ordinary Business;
May 13, 2026Senate
CONSIDERED IN HBN-6639 UNDER COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 61.
✦ AI insight

Stalled: the bill has been in the Committee on Justice and Human Rights since January 28, 2026, with no further action recorded since it was considered in HBN-6639 on May 13, 2026.

Tap a term to decode it
Floor activity

No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.

Full text
SBN-1595 — verbatim textAs filed

State Office of the scoretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 25 DEC 10 P3:31 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) RECEIVED BY: SENATE 1595 S. No. - Introduced by Senators PIA S. CAYETANO, ALAN PETER "COMPAÑERO" S. CAYETANO, and CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHNA TO BENNIE FRANCOTS BOATWRIGHT EXPLANATORY NOTE This proposed bill seeks to grant Philippine citizenship to Bennie Francois Boatwright III, a distinguished professional basketball player who has made considerable contributions to Philippine sports through his participation in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Mr. Boatwright, a 27-year-old talent standing at 6 feet 10 inches, has demonstrated an immediate and powerful impact upon his joining of the San Miguel Beermen in December 2023 for the PBA Commissioner's Cup. His exceptional skill and leadership were instrumental in leading the Beermen to the championship crown, securing the title after tallying nineteen points, thirteen rebounds, and eight assists in the crucial Game Six. This performance quickly earned the admiration of Filipino fans. Beyond his immediate athletic achievements, Mr. Boatwright has demonstrated fidelity to the nation's basketball aspirations, expressing a sincere interest in long-term engagement with our local leagues and the national program. As a prospective naturalized player for Gilas Pilipinas, his elite skillset and professionalism perfectly align with the team's developmental requirements. His inclusion would undoubtedly

elevate our nation's competitiveness in future international tournaments and bring immense pride and honor to the country. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. ALAN PET AIRO S CARETANO." CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GG

THE TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIP REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 'RECEIVED First Regular Session DABEC 10 20257 TIME: 3:31 pm BY: _ SENATE BILLS & INDEX 1595 S. No. _ Introduced by Senators PIA S. CAYETANO, ALAN PETER "COMPAÑERO" S. CAYETANO, and CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO BENNIE FRANCOIS BOATWRIGHT III Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Grant of Philippine Citizenship to Bennie Francois Boatwright III. -

2 Mr. Bennie Francois Boatwright III is hereby granted Philippine citizenship with all the rights, privileges, and prerogatives, as well as the duties and obligations appurtenant thereto under the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of the Philippines.

Sec. 2. Oath of Allegiance. - Bennie Francois Boatwright III shall take the Oath

6 of Allegiance duly authorized to administer the same. The Oath of Allegiance shall be 7 registered with the Bureau of Immigration.

Sec. 3. Certificate of Naturalization and Enjoyment of Philippine Citizenship. -

Upon registration of the Oath of Allegiance, the Bureau of Immigration shall issue a Certificate of Naturalization to Mr. Bennie Francois Boatwright III who shall thereupon enter into the full enjoyment of Philippine Citizenship.

Sec. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following

its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.