MANILA - Eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has again apologized for denouncing people in a same-sex marriage as "worse than animals," not long after popular local gay figures Vice Ganda and Boy Abunda said they will not be voting for him in the upcoming elections.
In an interview on radio dzMM on Wednesday, Pacquiao, who is running for senator under the United Nationalist Alliance, clarified that he was not condemning the LGBT community, but the "detestable" act of homesexuals having sex.
"Para po malaman nila, sa akin po, 'pag talagang intindihin, ulitin 'yung interview ko, panoorin, ang tinutukoy ko po doon ay act, iyong paggawa. Hindi po 'yung LGBT ang kinokondena ko," the boxer-politician said.
"Iyong paggawa po ang tinututulan natin. Pero iyong pag-condemn sa mga LGBT, wala po sa puso ko iyan kasi bawal mag-condemn ng isang tao," he added.
Addressing both Vice Ganda and Abunda, Pacquiao furthered: "Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa inyo kung nasaktan ko man kayo sa ginamit ko na word, sa pagkumpara ko sa tao sa hayop."
"Pero explanation ko po kasi iyon, opinyon. Ang ine-explain ko po doon ay ang paggawa, hindi po 'yung LGBT na sila. Kung nakasakit man ako, nandoon pa rin ang paniniwala ko na hindi ako pabor sa same-sex marriage."
Pacquiao, however, said that he will be supporting the proposed law that aims to protect members of the LGBT community from discrimination on account of sexual orientation and gender identity, among others.
On Tuesday, Vice Ganda and Boy Abunda voiced their disgust over Pacquiao's remarks. The former said the country does not need a "false prophet" elected into the Senate, while Abunda snarked that it is only "common sense" that he will not vote for the boxer.
"Tatakbo ka bilang senador?" Abunda asked. "Ito ang aking katanungan, palagay mo ba iboboto ko ba ang isang tao na ang tingin sa akin ay hindi tao? Iboboto ko ba ang isang tao na ang tingin sa akin ay mas masahol pa sa hayop. Manny, ang kasagutan --- salita mo, common sense."
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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