LP senatorial bets to Pacquiao: Respect LGBT rights

SILAY City, Negros Occidental — Senatorial candidates of the Liberal Party (LP)-led Daang Matuwid coalition on Tuesday slammed Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao for comparing same-sex couples to animals.

Pacquiao, who is running for senator in the May elections, said "common sense" would tell you that animals don't engage in sex with the same gender.

"Common sense lang. Makakita ka ba ng any animals na lalake sa lalake o babae sa babae?" Pacquiao said in a television interview.

"Mas mabuti pa 'yung hayop, marunong kumikilala kung [lalake o babae], 'di ba? Ngayon, kung lalake sa lalake o babae sa babae—mas masahol pa sa hayop ang tao," he added.

In an ambush interview here, administration bets Mark Lapid and former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Pacquiao should learn to respect the rights of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community, regardless of his personal views on same-sex relationships.

“We’re not even talking for any religious issue here, we’re talking about rights...Noong siya ay namili ng relihiyon eh lahat tayo nirespeto natin ‘yun, so sana ‘yung karapatan ng bawat tao ay respetuhin din natin ‘yun,” Lapid said.

Lapid, son of Senator Lito Lapid, said legalizing same-sex marriage will be the first proposal he will file in the Senate if he wins in the May elections.

De Lima said that while the Philippines is not yet ready for gay marriage considering its culture, Pacquiao should at least respect LGBTs who also need the protection of the state.

“[I’m not] necessarily [in favor of] same-sex marriage na pwede nang isulong at this time but respetuhin yung civil union, yung mga effect and consequence ng mga pagsasama ng same-sex couple,” she said.

Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, who is giving the senatorial elections a third try, meanwhile said that the anti-discrimination bill should be given more priority than discussions on same-sex marriage.

“‘Yun muna ang ipasa natin into law para parusahan ang anumang diskriminasyon batay sa sexual orientation and gender identity,” she said in an interview.

“Ang pag-ibig ay pag-ibig, ang pag-ibig ay hindi masahol,” Hontiveros added.

Nariman "Ina" Ambolodto, the lone Muslim senatorial candidate in the administration slate, said that while same-sex marriage is against Islam, the LGBT community must be accorded respect.

“I respect same-sex relationships and their civil rights to obligations and properties. It’s freedom of choice,” she said. —ALG, GMA News