Pacquiao says he has more LGBTQ supporters now

Senator Manny Pacquiao. (Contributed photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Saturday said that while he remains against same sex marriage, he now enjoys more support from the LGBTQ community.

“Marami pong salamat at sa ngayon ay nagkaintindihan na po kaming lahat at, yung paniniwala ko po ay manatili po iyon, ang aking paniniwala sa Panginoon. In fact, mas marami po akong mga supporters ngayon na LGBTQ na sumusuporta sa atin at naniniwala sa atin,” said Pacquiao in Jessica Soho’s Presidential Interviews aired on GMA-7.

(I am thankful that now, I have made myself clear to them but my belief stays, my belief in God. In fact, I have more LGBTQ supporters that believe in me.)

It can be recalled that Paqcuiao received flak for comparing gay people to animals back in 2016.

But the presidential aspirant later said he does not condemn homosexuals as he does not have a right to judge.

Pacquiao also said that he was misquoted.  “Na-misquote lang po talaga ako. Mali lang po yung pagkaintindi sa akin, mahaba po yung explanation ko doon.”

(I was misquoted. The interpretation with what I’ve said is wrong, I have a long explanation about that.)

Nevertheless, the boxer-turned-politician said he remains opposed to same-sex marriage.

“Hindi po ako pabor diyan,” Pacquiao said of same-sex marriage. “Sa paniniwala natin, sa faith natin sa Panginoon, kailangan doon tayo sa gusto ng Panginoon.”

(I am not in favor of that. In my faith, in our faith in God, we should do what God wants to do.)

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