Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a presidential candidate in May elections joined the fray pitting boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, a senatorial aspirant, against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups after Pacquiao described same-sex couples as “worse than animals. “
Mayor Duterte expressed support for LGBT members in a rally in Bacolod City on Wednesday, according to a statement sent to the Inquirer by Pete Laviña, head of the mayor’s media bureau. Duterte told the crowd that he has nothing against gays. It is not for humans to judge others, the mayor added.
Interviewed after attending a so- called “Ronda Serye” consultation meeting with vendors and jeepney drivers at the University of the Philippines Diliman Campus, the mayor agreed with Pacquiao that Philippine laws have not yet acknowledged same-sex marriage, it is not recognized by the present laws. He added that the Family Code said that a marriage is a union between a man and a woman,not man and man, or woman and woman.
“I respect Pacquiao’s opinion. Freedom of speech and expression is important. I may disagree with what he said but I will defend his right to say it. “
“This is a free country. So Pacquiao is entitled to say his piece. You may not like it. You may not favor it. But that is his right to express, freedom to express an opinion. This is a democracy. The gay community, they should understand.But I don’t want harassment and everything.I don’t want bigotry in work.”
In a press statement issued by his spokesman, Duterte reportedly stated: “God does not discriminate against people, regardless of color, religion, social class, or gender and sexual preferences. The universe is ruled by the law of God who is forgiving, merciful, compassionate, and loving, the same God who created us all equal.”
Source: Inquirer, GMA Network, ManilaBulletin
