Boxing star and budding politician Manny Pacquiao has created a firestorm in his home country after saying people in same-sex relationships “are worse than animals.”

Pacquiao, who is running for a Philippine Senate seat, made the remark in a video posted Monday on local TV5’s election site.

• Cricketers could soon be seeing red under new trial
• Corrupt tennis umpires banned, reveals ITF

He said animals are better than people in same-sex relationships because they recognise the difference between males and females.

“It’s common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex?,” he said.

“Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female. If men mate with men and women mate with women, they are worse than animals.”

Among those expressing opposition to the comments was gay comedian and television host Jose Marie Viceral, known as Vice Ganda.

He tweeted that lesbian, gays, bisexuals and transgenders are humans, not animals. He said they’re not saints, but that they’ll pray for Pacquiao.

Danton Remoto of the LGBT group Ladlad said Pacquiao’s comments showed he had a shallow understanding of issues important to the LGBT community.

The champion boxer apologised soon after, but did not back down from his anti same-sex marriage stance.

“I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals,” he said in a post on Instagram.

“Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt.”

“I still stand on my belief that I’m against same-sex marriage because of what the bible says, but I’m not condemning L.G.B.T. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God bless you all and I’m praying for you.”