Manny Pacquiao Willing to Sit With Filipino Gay Entertainers?

By Christine Thomasos, Christian Post Reporter Monday, February 22, 2016

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, who is running for Senator in the May 2016 national elections, speaks to supporters during the start of elections campaigning in Mandaluyong city, Metro Manila February 9, 2016. | (Photo: Reuters/Janis Alano)

Manny Pacquiao is willing to sit down with some of his most vocal Filipino critics from the LGBT community.

The 37-year-old eight-division world champion boxer who has hopes for being elected into his country's Senate this May, drew the ire of Filipino comedian Vice Ganda and Filipino television presenter Boy Abunda after comparing gay people to animals.

However, Pacquiao's manager Arnold Vegafria said the boxer- turned-politician is willing to meet with his popular critics in the gay community.

"You know, we respect those opinions both [of] theirs actually. I think that's the best," Vegafria said in a Sports Interactive Network Phillipines report. "They have different beliefs. We should leave them in their respective opinions"

Vegafria's opinion came after Ganda, the 39-year-old comedian entertainer who belongs to the LGBT community, said he would pray for Pacquiao and might see the boxer in hell.

"Though we're no saints we will pray for Manny Pacquiao," he tweeted, calling Pacquiao a "false prophet." "Manny, we will not stop you if you want to judge the gay world. Just make sure that you will find resistance to hell."

Ganda's reaction is in response to Pacquiao comparing gay people to animals in an interview with "Bilang Pilipino."

"It's common sense. Do you see any animals that go male to male, or female to female," Pacquiao questioned when appearing on "Bilang Pilipino" . "So the animals are even better (than humans) because they know how to distinguish from male to male or female to female. Right?"

Gay Filipino television presenter Boy Abunda was also among the champion boxer's critics.

"I do not agree, Manny, if you're watching, you called me worse than I am the beast, that I am lower than an animal," he said according to a Phil Star report. "Who are you to judge ? Where do you get the power to call us worse than animals."

Pacquiao has since apologized on Instagram for his comments concerning the LGBT community, even though he said he still believes "what the bible says."

Ganda decided to accept that apology.

"Manny said sorry. Apology accepted," he said. "I will still not vote for him. Manny for boxing not for Senate."