Pacquiao respects HBO stand on anti-gay slur, insists he was misunderstood

Boxer Manny Pacquiao on Thursday said he respects the stand of HBO condemning his anti-gay comments from last month, insisting that his controversial statement was just misunderstood.

"Walang problema. Hindi naman tayo hindi natin kino-condemn ang LGBT as a person. I believe that we should love each other. Ang ayaw natin yung gawain na masama. Pero yung pagkatao, we cannot condemn someone," he told GMA News'Mark Zambrano.

In a television interview last month, 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," he said. "Makakita ka ba ng any animals na lalake sa lalake o babae sa babae?"

"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.

Pacquiao's statement generated a firestorm here and abroad with athletic wear brand Nike cutting off its ties with the eight-division boxing champion.

Pacquiao has since apologized. But not all were satisfied.

HBO, which will air Pacquiao’s upcoming fight against Timothy Bradley Jr. on April 9, reacted to the controversy belatedly by releasing a statement only last Wednesday

“Next month Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. are scheduled to meet in a Pay-Per-View bout.  We have an obligation to both fighters and, therefore, will proceed to produce and distribute that event,” HBO said in a statement.

“However, we felt it important to leave no uncertainty about our position on Mr. Pacquiao's recent comments toward the LGBT community. We consider them insensitive, offensive and deplorable. HBO has been a proud home to many LGBT stories and couldn't approach this event without clearly voicing our opinion.”

Reacting to the latest criticism, Pacquiao said he was misunderstood.

"Ang sinabi ko maliwanag naman yon. Gusto lang nilai-drag sa maling pagkakaintindi. Pero kung intindihin mo mabuti, review-hin yung interview ko pati yung message ko, ang kino-condemn ko doon is yung gawain. Yung act, hindi yung pagkatao," he said. — APG, GMA News