“I HOPE that we will not have leaders like this.”
This was the reaction of Mandaue City Treasurer Regal Oliva, adviser of a gay group called Manpride, after boxing icon and Rep. Manny Pacquiao (Sarangani) issued his statement about same-sex marriage.
Pacquiao has been facing criticisms after saying that couples engaged in same sex marriage are “mas masahol pa sa hayop (worse than animals)” in an interview.
“I am issuing this statement not in line with my work as a civil servant because I cannot speak ill against a candidate, but I am speaking this as an adviser of the Manpride and I’m an advocate of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights. What Manny Pacquiao said against LGBT (which is) comparing us to lower life forms or masahol pa sa hayop is truly very deteriorating, very discriminatory and was very uncalled for for a person running for a senate seat who would be a leader of our nation,” Oliva told reporters.
Protector
Oliva hoped that the country will have leaders that will protect each constituent no matter the gender, race or religion.
“If there is a word more than condemned, I think that should be the word used by the LGBT communities against the words used by Cong. Manny Pacquiao against us,” he said.
Oliva called the incident “a wake up call” for the LGBT members that they cannot be complacent about the leaders that they will be electing.
Pacquiao is running as senator for the May 2016 elections.
“I was angered because I did not choose to be like this and to be compared with somebody lower than an animal would really be painful. We were in pain,” he said.
Viral
Pacquiao’s statement went viral few days after an anti-discriminatory ordinance intended for the LGBT community was approved by the Mandaue City Council.
The Anti-Discriminatory Ordinance for People of Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression was approved by the Council last Feb. 10.
“To be against same sex-marriage, that’s your stand. He could have ended there,” Oliva added.
In a separate interview, Philippine Red Cross Chairman Dick Gordon, a senatorial candidate, said he will create a law that will protect partnership, including those same sex couples.
“I respect all people… Mali yung ginawa ni Manny,” he said.