Apl.de.ap: Manny Pacquiao Was Misunderstood ... 'He Meant Well'

Looks like there is someone willing to defend Manny Pacquiao's recent anti-gay tirade ... kinda ... fellow Filipino Apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas who says Manny's sentiments were "misunderstood."

Pacquiao made all the wrong kinds of headlines last month when he compared gay people to animals ... then doubled down in bigotry by posting a bible verse suggesting all gays be put to death.

Apl and Manny have been friends for years so when we got Mr. de.ap out on a rainy night in L.A. we had to ask him ... what's wrong with your boy?

Check out the clip -- he stops short of a full scale defense of Pacquiao's statements, but makes it clear the statements Manny made don't really reflect what's in his heart.