Manny Pacquiao has flatly denied he ever quoted the book of Leviticus from the Bible which condemned gays and said they should be killed for which some segments of the US media have taken him to task.
The verse in question from Leviticus states "if a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death. Their blood will be on their own heads."
In a telephone conversation with ABS-CBN'S Dyan Castillejo, Pacquiao said "I don't even know that verse from Leviticus because I never read Leviticus."
Pacquiao whose comments were in a response to a question on his reaction to US President Barack Obama's support for gay marriages said "my opinion is that same sex marriages are against the law of God."
He added that the reporter identified as Granville Ampong "did not even ask me for a verse from the Bible. But if he did I would have given him 1st Corinthians 6:9" which lists down activities including homosexuality that will prevent people from entering the Kingdom of God.
Pacquiao accused reporters who claimed he quoted Leviticus of lying.
Pacquiao stressed "I am not angry with gays but I don't want them to sin against the law of God because homosexual offenders cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. I was talking about same sex marriages."
He stressed "I am not against gays and I have relatives who are gay. There is nothing we can do about having such relatives but what I don't want is for them to disobey what God has ordered."
Addressing those who sent hate messages on twitter Pacquiao said "read the Bible and know the commandments of God first and not people. God is the judge. Stop sinning."
At the same time Pacquiao denied that his interview with longtime friend and TV star Mario Lopez at the Grove was canceled saying "it will go ahead."
Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz earlier told the Manila Standard that "Manny didn't wish harm or ill-will on anybody. All he said he is against same sex marriages."
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