After his controversial remarks on same-sex marriage drew strong condemnation, boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday apologized for saying couples in same-sex marriages are worse than animals.
The boxer, who is running for senator, made the comparison in an interview with TV5. “Common sense lang. Makakita ka ba ng any animals na lalaki sa lalaki o babae sa babae? Mas mabuti pa ‘yung hayop. Marunong kumikilala, kung lalaki o lalaki, babae babae. Ngayon kung lalaki sa lalaki, babae sa babae, mas masahol pa sa hayop ang tao,” the boxer had said. This drew hash reactions from several personalities, including blogger Perez Hilton and local celebrities Vice Ganda Aiza Seguerra. Hilton said Pacquiao’s comment is “horrific and damaging,” while Seguerra said the fighting congressman is an “ignorant, bigoted hypocrite.” TV host and comedian Vice Ganda, for his part, said he won’t vote for Pacquiao. This forced Pacquiao to issue an apology through a video posted on his Facebook page.
“Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng mga nasaktan dahil sa aking pagkumpara
ng tao sa hayop. ‘Yun po ay kamalian ko at ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng nasaktan,” he said.
But the former world champion, who figured in a similar controversy back in 2012, said he maintains his stand against same-sex marriage.
“Hindi po nagbabago ang aking desisyon na against po ako sa same-sex marriage at iyan po ang paniniwala ko,” said Pacquiao. “Ang pagkakamali ko lang po ay ikinumpara ko ang tao sa hayop.”
“I am humbling myself before you and before God.”
NOT THE FIRST TIME
This is not the first time Pacquiao had to apologize for his views on homosexuality. In 2012, Pacquiao was asked about his views on the subject and Examiner writer Granville Ampong quoted the boxer but used a verse in Leviticus: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”
While Pacquiao denied giving the exact quote and Ampong admitted to inserting the controversial verse into his story, the boxer nonetheless apologized, saying he was not against gay people.
“To the gay community, I apologize,” Pacquiao said on the show “Extra,” as quoted by the LA Times. “I’m against same-sex marriage, but I’m not condemning you. My favorite verse is ‘Love one another as you love yourself. Love your neighbor.’ So I love everybody!” (abs-cbn)