Pacquiao respects Nike's decision, looks for new sponsor

 

Team Pacquiao now looking for new apparel sponsor

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao on Thursday addressed the controversy regarding his statements on same-sex marriage for the final time, reiterating that he has never condemned members of the LGBT community.

"Inuulit ko, hinid ko kino-condemn 'yung mga LGBT," Pacquiao said on Thursday morning in General Santos City during his training session. "Ang kino-condemn ko, I just want to clarify this, 'yung paggawa ng masama ang kino-condemn ko."

The boxer insisted that he is not worried about the impact of his controversy on his campaign for a Senate seat, even as prominent members of LGBT community have declared that they will not support him in the 2016 elections.

"Hindi man ako nababahala sa kung ano 'yong katotohanan," he said. "As I establish my leadership, you need to be firm on your own decision kung ano ang tama."

Pacquiao also said he respects the decision of sports apparel giant Nike to terminate its contract with him in the wake of his controversial statements.

Team Pacquiao is now looking for a new sponsor apparel for the boxer.

"Kung ano man 'yong decision nila, desisyon nila 'yon, nirerespeto ko at saka ang pag-sponsor nila sa akin, 'yong mga damit lang man para sa fight," he said.

In the meantime, Pacquiao said he will now focus his attention on his training for his April 9 fight against Timothy Bradley Jr. The "Pacman" has been joined by chief trainer Freddie Roach for his training camp for what will be the last fight of his career.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Nike urged to drop Pacquiao for anti-gay comments

MANILA - Gay and lesbian groups have called on voters in the Philippines to boycott boxing icon Manny Pacquiao as he bids for a Senate seat, after he described gays as "worse than animals".

An online petition is also underway asking global sportswear company Nike Inc to drop Pacquiao as an endorser. The petition on change.org has garnered more than 2,000 signatures so far.

Pacquiao, revered in the Philippines for winning world boxing titles in eight different weight classes during his 20-year career, suddenly fell from grace after a 30-second interview on local television about same-sex marriage, which he opposes.

"It's just common sense. Do you see any animals of the same sex mating? Animals are better off, they can distinguish between male and female," Pacquiao told TV5 on Monday.

"Now if men are mating with men and women with women, then they are worse than animals," he said.

This is not the first time Pacquiao, a sitting two-term congressman, had earned the ire of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community for his comments on same-sex marriage. He also apologized for his remarks in 2012.

Same-sex marriage is not allowed in the Philippines where more than 80 percent of the 100 million population is Roman Catholic.

The 37-year old congressman, among those favored to win a Senate seat at the May elections based on independent pollsters' surveys, apologised on Tuesday. Latest surveys showed him in 8th place for the race to win 12 vacant seats in the Senate.

"I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt," Pacquiao said in a video message on his Twitter account. He said he remained against same-sex marriage.

That didn't stop a torrent of comments on social media lambasting Pacquiao and using the hashtags #NoToManny2016 #zerovoteformanny and #WorseThanAnimals.

"LGBT groups and individuals are saying he should not be voted into office... we are one of them," Danton Remoto, head of Philippine lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group Ladlad, or Out, told Reuters by phone.

While the former boxer's comments offended liberal Filipinos, they could have struck a chord with more conservative voters in the staunchly Catholic country.

Local singer Aiza Seguerra, who married her actress-girlfriend partner in late 2014 in San Francisco, also called on voters to boycott Pacquiao.

"You might've done our country proud but with your statement, you just showed the whole country why we shouldn't vote for you," Seguerra said on her Instagram.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com