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SPORTSWednesday 17 February
Manny Pacquiao sorry for saying gays ‘worse than animals’
TERESA CEROJANO In this Oct. 12, 2015, file photo, Manny Pacquiao takes questions at the Asia Society in New York. an ignorant, bigoted hypo-
Associated Press Associated Press
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — crite,” Seguerra said.
Boxing star and Philippine Ganda tweeted that les- gesting that even the be- Pacquiao and his advisers
Senate candidate Manny bians, gays, bisexuals and loved leader of the Roman “should bone up on LGBT Pacquiao, 37 and a cur-
Pacquiao apologized Tues- transgenders are humans, Catholic church does not issues” of the 21st century.
day for denouncing peo- not animals. He said that condemn gays. He quot- “Otherwise, they would rent member of the House
ple in gay relationships as they’re not saints, but that ed the pope: “If a person be left behind in the Dark of Representatives, apolo-
“worse than animals” but they’ll pray for the boxer, is gay and he searches for Ages, when the cavemen gized in social media. “I’m
said he stood by his opposi- who is widely acclaimed for the Lord and has good will, ruled and the numbskulls sorry for hurting people by
tion to same-sex marriage. bringing his country honors. who am I to judge?” roamed the earth,” Remo- comparing homosexuals to
Fellow Filipino celebrities Vice Ganda posted a pic- Danton Remoto, chairman to said. animals,” he said in a Face-
were among those criticiz- ture of Pope Francis, sug- of the LGBT group Ladlad, Singer Aiza Seguerra, a book video. “Please forgive
ing his remarks, made when said Pacquiao’s comments former child actress in the me for those I’ve hurt.”
a TV network asked candi- betray a shallow under- 1980s who is now living with In an Instagram post, he
dates about their views on standing of sexual orienta- another actress, blasted said he was not condemn-
same-sex marriage. tion and gender identity. Pacquiao on Instagram: ing anyone, but was just
“It’s just common sense,” “He is running for a national “You might’ve done our expounding on a bibli-
Pacquiao said in the re- position and he should be a country proud but with your cal truth and would rather
marks posted online by the senator of everybody, not statement, you just showed obey God than obey “the
TV5 network. “Have you just over-the-hill boxers and the whole country why we desires of the flesh.”
seen any animal having straight people,” Remoto shouldn’t vote for you.” Although he has come un-
male-to-male or female-to- said by phone, adding “And yes, I think you are der fire for his chronic ab-
female relations?” sences in Congress, Pac-
Animals, he said, were bet- quiao is campaigning for
ter because they recognize a Senate seat and voter-
gender differences, and “if preference surveys show
you have male-to-male him among the strong con-
or female-to-female (rela- tenders. Many believe he’ll
tionships), then people are eventually take a crack at
worse than animals.” the presidency.
Among those who reacted The poverty that hound-
strongly was popular gay ed his childhood forced
comedian and TV host him to drop out of school
Jose Marie Viceral, known and take on odd jobs be-
as Vice Ganda. Vice fore he embraced box-
ing, where he carved a
legend and became one
of the highest-paid slug-
gers by emerging as an
eight-division champion.
As his fortunes brightened,
he returned to school and
later took a special course
to prepare for his role as a
congressman.
He has recently declared
plans to retire after his third
bout with Timothy Bradley
on April 9 in Las Vegas with
a guaranteed $20 million
payday.q
