TV5: Pacquiao video clip ‘minimally edited in good faith’

Television network TV5 has denied splicing the online video showing boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao describing homosexuals as “worse than animals” after the full clip of the interview portion surfaced on the Internet.

In a statement, TV5 said the 29-second online video which became viral last week “was not spliced but minimally edited in good faith and with reasonable care.”

“There was no intention to change the context or misrepresent the essence of Mr. Pacquiao’s statements,” the TV network said.

After the video clip was posted online last Feb. 15, TV5 said it gave the full raw video to Pacquiao’s camp, after which he posted his apology on social media.

In addition, the TV network said the video of the boxer’s interview was broadcast in its entirety on the primetime newscast of “Aksyon” on Feb. 16.

TV5 has drawn criticism online after the full video of Pacquiao’s interview on the topic of same-sex marriage was uploaded on a certain “Kupal Lord’s” Facebook page.

In the video lasting one minute and two seconds, the lawmaker expressed his belief as a Christian that same-sex marriage is a sin.

“As [a] Christian, bawal naman yung same-sex marriage. Ginawa ang babae para sa lalaki, ginawa ang lalaki para sa babae. Kasi para sa akin ito lang, 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, [kung] babae, babae. O diba? Ngayon kung lalaki sa lalaki o babae sa babae eh mas masahol pa sa hayop ang tao. Ang hayop lang, hindi talaga puwedeng magsama ang lalake sa lalake.

”Pero I'm not condemning, I'm not condemning them—yung [same-sex] marriage lang. Yung committing sin against God,” he said.

In contrast, the shorter video clip uploaded earlier only featured Pacquiao’s comparison of homosexuals to animals.

As of Monday evening, the video on Kupal Lord’s Facebook page has garnered over 5.4 million views.

After the original video went viral, celebrities and LGBT groups as well as netizens and cultural figures slammed the lawmaker for his statement. International sporting goods giant Nike subsequently severed its ties with him following the incident.

Pacquiao has already apologized for his remarks.

As of posting time, the boxer has yet to reply to GMA News Online’s request for comment on TV5’s latest statement. — Xianne Arcangel/BM, GMA News