New law to flood PBA with Fil-Ams?

Will the dual citizenship law open the floodgates to Fil-foreign players in major sporting leagues in the country, particularly the Philippine Basketball Association?

This question cropped up after the Lower House, in a marathon session last Thursday, voted 128 to 33 on the final reading to approve the dual citizenship bill that would enable millions of expatriates to retain Filipino citizenship and keep all their attendant rights, such as the right to vote in an election.

The House and Senate are now set to consolidate their versions of the bill for the final draft of the law which will be enforced.

In the sporting world, it is widely believed that the new law could set the stage for fake Filipino-foreigners to get into our national teams and professional basketball.

"Actually, it is allowed under the 1973 and present constitutions," says Tina Rilloraza, a state counsel for the Department of Justice who has been involved in the cases of Fil-Am players seeking recognition as Filipino citizens to be able to play in the PBA.

"However, some who have applied in the past have already taken oaths as citizens of other countries. They are no longer eligible."

According to Rilloraza, citizenship is a right given upon birth, so the law will, in a way, be retroactive in some cases. Depending on the country, the citizenship is determined by the place of birth, or the nationality of the parents.

"Personally, I don’t see any problem," said Alaska assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa, who has been vocal in pushing the PBA Players Association to keep fake Filipino-foreign players out of the league. "Some of the legitimate Fil-Ams already have dual citizenship. It doesn’t affect the ones we’re after. We just want the fake ones out."

There are several ways one can lose one’s Filipino citizenship. One is by performing an act of allegiance to a foreign country, such as joining a foreign military service, or publicly denouncing one’s nationality.

Rilloraza said the new dual citizenship law will not include those whose parents have been naturalized citizens of other countries by these or other methods.

"For me, it’s an issue of blood," Lastimosa adds. "If they have Filipino blood, you should be allowed to play. It’s not their fault if their parents became citizens of another country. You couldn’t help that."

But wouldn’t the influx of a whole new crop of Fil-Ams lessen the number of roster spots available for homegrown talents more than it already has?

Wouldn’t more Fil-Ams mean less locally-bred talents aspiring for the national team and the PBA in the long-term?

"We should look at it from the positive point of view," said Elmer Yañga, senior vice-president of RFM Corporation, which has been backing the development of young Filipino basketball players through its Sunkist Youth Basketball Championships and Selecta Moo children’s basketball clinics. "We should encourage them, even if it’s a higher standard that they are now aiming for."