‘Go to Mars,’ Enrile tells those in same-sex relationship
Those of the same sex who want to have a relationship should go to Mars to do it, as there is nothing in the world, the entire creation that says two of the same sex could procreate.
The comment comes from former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who has fanned the controversial remark of senatorial bet, Rep. Manuel “Manny’’ Pacquiao who de-
scribed those who engage in same sex relationship as “worse than animals.’’
In a patched telephone interview, the 92-year- old lawmaker stressed: “That (same-sex relationship) is unnatural.”
“Pacquiao is a leader. He is showing better leadership than most people,” was Enrile’s reply when asked if Pacquiao’s opinion is correct.
Pacquiao criticized
Pacquiao’s comment, made in a television interview Monday, went viral on Facebook and soon, many came up to criticize him. By Wednesday morning, Pacquiao’s two million Twitter followers had dwindled to 10,351.
Pacquiao apolized for the comment through his Facebook account Tuesday night.
‘Lack of experience’
Yesterday, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, a re- electionist, said Pacquiao’s statement “shows the lack of experience in governance.”
“I will not commit the same mistake that my good friend Manny Pacquiao did. He committed a mistake there, an aspect that we should be on the lookout among those in authority. He used wrong language but he has already apologized,” he added.
Enrile explains
Stressing his position against same sex relationship, Enrile said that he is a “liberalist but not that liberal because what God has put together, let them not be put asunder.”
“Even birds are pairing all the time. I never saw any pairing between the same sex, even animals. Why should we be better than the animals? Common sense lang yan,” he pointed out.
In reply to a question about the backlash from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) group against Pacquiao, Enrile said that Pacquiao does not need any sector to win.
‘He will win’
“He will win this election hands down. Kahit anong batikos mo (No matter how you hit him),’’ Enrile said.
Enrile said the strength of Pacquiao lies with the masses that compose the majority of the electorate.
Queried about his reaction if he were criticized for siding with Pacquiao. Enrile replied: “Anong pakialam ko sa kanila kung banatan ako. Sabihin ko sa kanila ‘sira ulo niyo eh… anong ginagawa ninyo?(laughs) Di naman kayo Diyos (I don’t care if they criticize me. I will tell them they are out of their minds; what are you doing, You are not God).”
‘Won’t hurt UNA slate’
In Pangasinan, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party said yesterday that Pacquiao’s harsh statements against gays and lesbians won’t hurt the chances of their Senate slate in the May polls.
UNA Spokesman and Provincial Coordinator Mon Ilagan told Manila-based reporters here Pacquiao’s remarks won’t be a burden to the opposition party even as he clarified its views on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
I think it was clear in his apology that he respects the stand of the Catholic Church. But he also respects equality in our society,” he said in Tagalog.
An evangelical Protestant and a hardcore follower of the Bible, Pacquiao is one of six “original members” of the opposition faction’s Senate slate.
But despite his statement, Ilagan somewhat distanced the party from the boxer’s controversial opinions.
“Yan ay personal na pananalita ni Manny Pacquiao (That is a personal statement of Manny Pacquiao),” the UNA official said.
“Pero inulit niya, napakinggan ko rin na siya’y humihingi ng public apology kung mayroon man siyang nasaktan (But he’s made a public apology asking forgiveness if he hurt anyone),” he added.
Humble apology
Meanwhile, bashed on social media a day ago, the boxing hero has won over critics and earned the respect of 2016 national candidates for his “sincere and humble” apology for the LGBT remark he made during an interview.
Wasting no time in clarifying his controversial statement, Pacquiao invited to dinner a huge crowd of LGBT members and supporters in Sarangani province to personally air his apology.
“I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me. I still stand on my belief that I’m against same sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I’m not condemning LGBT. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God bless you all and I’m praying for you,” said Pacquiao, who is running for senator.
Also lauding Pacquiao’s show of humility were Reps. Win Gatchalian, also a senatorial bet, together with party-list nominees Reps. Emmie De Jesus ( Gabriela Party- list); Sherwin Tugna (CIBAC Party-list); and former Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Bagong Henerasyon Party-list).
With Pacquiao
Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, a fierce critic of same-sex marriage proposals, said he agreed with Pacquiaos “strong stand” against same sex proposals.
“He stated his principles based on his faith and we should respect it,” said Atienza.
Kabataan Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon said Pacquiao made the right deci- sion in airing a public apology.
However, Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo of Liberal Party said Pacquiao should be forgiven but he should “rectify his stand and respect LGBT equal rights.”
‘Who am I to judge?’
Who am I to judge, was the comment of independent vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. when asked about same sex relationships.
In reply to the query, Marcos reiterated the position of Pope Francis on controversial issues surrounding the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community.
I follow what the Pope said. He said: “Who am I to judge? If the Pope says don’t judge, who are we to judge, he told reporters in a press briefing held at the Barangay Hall of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City after a motorcade in the northern part of city.
“Whatever is the station in life a person is as long as he has not hurt anybody and has not committed any wrongdoing, why should we make a judgment? (With reports from Ben R. Rosario, Ellson Quismorio, and Argyll Geducos)