Saturday, August 30, 2008 Norwood joins PBA Rookie draft
MANILA - Include the name of Gabe Norwood in the final list of candidates for Sunday’s Annual Draft.
Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios gave Norwood the green light yesterday to be part of the proceedings to be held at the Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig City where he is expected to be the top overall pick.
Norwood was given until close of office hours yesterday to submit his Bureau of Immigration recognition and Department of Justice affirmation of his Filipino citizenship.
However, the PBA ruled that the letter of Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez to the Department of Foreign Affairs on July 21, 2007 declaring Norwood to be a Filipino citizen on the basis of the Philippine citizenship of his mother was in substantial compliance with the league requirements.
“Having been born on Feb. 9, 1985, of a Filipino mother makes Gabriel Daniel Norwood a Filipino citizen under Sec.1 (2) of Article III of the 1973 Constitution which declares as citizens of the Philippines “those whose fathers and mothers are citizens of the Philippines,” at the time of their birth. As such, he should have the right to be issued a Philippine Passport in accordance with Sec. 5 of R.A. No.8239,” Gonzalez wrote Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, who asked for his opinion when Norwood applied for Philippine Passport last year.
“Since the DOJ contends that Norwood no longer needs the documents we required him to submit, it’s illogical on our part to insist on it,” Barrios said.
The other six Fil-foreign applicants were required to submit additional supporting documents but Norwood was given some concessions for being a member of the PBA-formed Philippine national team that represented the country in the FIBA-Asia championship held in Tokushima, Japan last year.
The inclusion of Norwood, who played in the Philippine Basketball League after the Tokushima joust, was a great relief for Rain or Shine. The Asian Coatings franchise, which owns the No.1 Draft rights, has signified its intention to net Norwood. (PBA Media Bureau)
