Former president Fidel V. Ramos on Friday said the backlash against senatorial aspirant and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao over his controversial anti-gay remarks would hardly affect his stature in life.
“The fate of Manny Pacquiao is probably already done eh kasi mayaman na ‘yan. Kahit ano pa ang ibatikos na public opinion sa kanya, magiging komportable pa rin ‘yan,” Ramos said during the Pandesal forum at Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City, Friday.
(The fate of Manny Pacquiao is probably already done since he is already rich. Whatever public opinion they throw at him, he’ll still be comfortable.)
But noting that the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is part of the society, Ramos said the Sarangani representative would not be able to hide from the shadows of a “perpetual misstatement,” when he relegated gays who engage in homosexual acts as “worse than animals.”
“Pero ang hindi niya siguro malagpasan, ay ‘yung (But perhaps what he would not be able to overcome is the) perpetual misstatement against the LGBT who are part of our national society,” he said.
READ: Bishop calls for calm from LGBT: Understand Pacquiao’s statement
Ramos said the Philippine society should have a more accepting attitude toward LGBT people and those who have less in life, including foundlings.
“So let them, pagbigyan natin lahat ‘yan. Pati ‘yung mga hindi natural born, pati ‘yung mga foundling, pagbigyan natin lahat ‘yan. They are part of us,” he added.
(So let the, let’s give them a chance. Including those who are natural born, foundlings, let’s give them a chance. They are part of us.)
Pacquiao earned the ire of netizens and celebrities when he compared gays to animals in his stand against same-sex marriage in a television interview. He apologized for his remarks on social media.
READ: Pacquiao likens gays to animals, draws flak
American sportswear giant Nike also dropped Pacquiao as clothing sponsor following his “abhorrent” remarks. CDG
READ: Pacquiao loses Nike, faces DQ threat