- Manny Pacquiao, who is running for Senator, draws the ire of the public after comparing LGBT community to animals
- The boxing icon’s fellow senatorial candidates hit back and reacted to his statement
- Among the senatorial candidates who reacted are Vicente Sotto, Neri Colmenares, Lorna Kapunan, Susan Ople, Mark Lapid, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros and Ina Ambolodto
MANILA, Philippines – Senatorial candidates from different party hit back fellow candidate and Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao for comparing members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community to animals.
Senatorial candidates of Partido Galing at Puso denounced the boxing icon’s statement while they were at a news conference at Hotel Del Rio in Iloilo City.
Senator Vicente Sotto III said he was saddened by the remarks made by Pacquiao and he cannot agree to it at all. The senator quickly added that the boxing icon was misguided to have believed that kind of thoughts.
Photo Credit: Taho News
An article by Hannah Torregoza for Tempo published on February 17 said that Bayan Muna party-list Representative Neri Colmenares compared Pacquiao’s statement to an illegal blow in boxing, a blow that will worsen the discrimination the LGBT community is currently facing.
“That statement was below the belt. I have been pushing for the anti-discriminatory bill in Congress. He (Paquiao) should stop adding to the discrimination problem,” he said.
Lawyer Lorna Kapunan also hit at the Sarangani lawmaker saying he should just stay in boxing where he can do better.
Janvic Mateo said in his article for The Philippines Star published on February 17 that even Overseas Filipino worker (OFW) advocate Susan Ople advised Pacquiao that as he is a lawmaker, he should respect all human beings.
“He needs enlightenment and guidance,” Ople said.
Meanwhile, Senatorial bets of the Liberal Party (LP) also expressed dismay with Pacquiao’s statements against the LBGT community.
An article by Jefferson Antiporda and Llanesca T. Panti for The Manila Times published on February 16 said that Mark Lapid, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros and Ina Ambolodto also have a say against the controversial remarks.
“This is not about religion. This is about human rights. When he switched religion, we respected his decisions. In the same vein, he should also respect the rights of other people,” said Lapid, who is in favor of same-sex marriage, while campaigning in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
Lapid added that one should not impose a belief on anyone and said we all have equal rights, thus, the state should honor it. He also added that it can’t be denied that the LGBT community has played a significant role in our economy.
De Lima, the former Justice Secretary, said she is not in favor of same-sex marriage but wants the couple to be protected under the law.
“I am not necessarily for same-sex marriage but we have to respect civil union (and) the consequences of it for the same-sex couples. What I am for is for the protection of same-sex couples on the consequences of living together, i.e. beneficiaries, succession in case of sickness/death and property and contractual rights,” according to de Lima.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros, who is also against same-sex marriage but believes everyone has the right to choose, said “Love is love. And love is not rude. Love is beautiful and good. But our LGBT community is more concerned with an anti-discrimination bill right now.”
Ambolodto, a Muslim, who maintained a stand against same-sex marriage clarified that the couple’s right to have a choice should be respected.
“I respect same-sex relationships and their civil rights to obligations and properties. It’s freedom of choice. In Islam, bawal po sa amin yan (same-sex relationships is forbidden in Islam). But I respect their rights,” Ambolodto said.
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