Sorry not enough, LGBT group demands dialogue with Pacquiao  

A lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group said that an apology from Manny Pacquiao was not enough, after the Filipino boxing icon described gays as "worse than animals".

Gay and lesbian groups have called on Filipinos not to vote for Pacquiao for his televised comments on same-sex marriage, almost a repeat of an incident in 2012 when he quoted from the Bible to warn against homosexual activities.

Crescencio Agbayani Jr., founding pastor of the LGBT Ecclesiastical church that holds unofficial gay marriages in Manila, said Pacquiao should have a real dialogue with them and discuss the issue deeply.

"We hope that he should be true to his apology. I ask him to sit down and talk about issues on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. If he does not like same-sex marriage then it's okay, but I want him to see the different LGBTs in the Philippines, on the struggles in their lives because of the effects of his statement that we are worse than animals," Agbayani said.

Nike, the world's largest sportswear maker, cancelled its contract on Wednesday  with the 37-year-old boxer-turned-politician, who has been the world champion in eight different weight divisions.

For all the criticism over his anti-gay comments and the loss of a lucrative endorsement deal, Pacquiao still looks set to win election to the country's senate in May, according to political analysts.

Voters in the mostly Catholic Philippines appear unready to abandon support for the country's biggest sporting hero, who is running for one of 12 vacant senatorial seats up for grabs in the May 9 election.

Annabelle Magsipoc, a government employee, said criticism against Pacquiao has no effect on her.

"Actually, many people really wanted to say what Pacquiao said about same-sex marriage, but some people are trying to make this an election issue," she said.

Hospital trainee Harkris Jariola said he was still likely to vote for Pacquiao.

"I have nothing against Pacquiao if I were to vote, because as long as he is helping the people, then I'd vote for him," he said.

The fighter has apologized for the comments, and analysts say the controversy has caused little damage to his campaign.

Benito Lim, political science professor at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University, said that while Pacquiao offended the LGBT community with his comments on same sex-marriage, the group only represents a minority in contrast to his popularity as a boxer.

Same-sex marriage is banned in the Philippines where more than 80 percent of the 100 million population is Roman Catholic. Many ordinary Filipinos believe Pacquiao made a mistake in his remarks on issue because he hurt some sensibilities.

Most people say they are more interested in what happens in April, when Pacquiao tries to win back the WBO welterweight title he lost last year to Floyd Mayweather.

Billed as his final fight, Pacquiao is going up against American Timothy Bradley.

Independent opinion polls showed Pacquiao, a two-term congressman, consistently ranked eighth with 35 percent support in a field of four dozen candidates vying for one of the 12 vacant seats in the Senate. — Reuters