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Iloilo LGBT group slams ex-official

Iloilo LGBT group slams ex-official

By AJ Siytangco

By Tara Yap ILOILO CITY — An activist group for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community of Iloilo denounced the alleged homophobic statement of Manuel Mejorada, a former official previously convicted of libel for maligning Sen. Franklin Drilon.

Manuel “Boy” Mejorada (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)

Manuel “Boy” Mejorada (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) “Mr. Mejorada’s statement is baseless, ignorant, and discriminatory. He has no right to degrade a whole community just because of his political agenda,” said Justin Francis Bionat, leader of Iloilo Pride Team. The controversy arose from Mejorada’s complaint before the Ombudsman that Ruel Von Superio, an executive assistant of Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., has unexplained wealth. A block-time radio host, Mejorada publicly supports the gubernatorial candidacy of Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferj Biron, who is running against Defensor’s son. After Superio publicly admitted he is gay, Mejorada said over the radio that gay men tend to be corrupt to be able to finance their vices. “Gay men are not corrupt or thieves,” Bionat told Manila Bulletin. Mejorada, for his part, apologized to the LGBT community while claiming his words were twisted.

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