#FreePuraLukaVega: Arrest Of Drag Queen Assailed

Drag queen Pura Luka Vega, whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente and who became controversial for his “Jesus Christ” impersonation, does not deserve to be jailed for exercising  freedom of expression, netizens and other sectors said.

Ryan Thoreson, a specialist at the Human Rights Watch’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights program, called for the charges against Pagente to be dropped and for him to be released following his arrest at his house in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Wednesday, Oct. 4, by the members of the Manila Police District (MPD).

This was based on a report shared by the warrant and subpoena unit of the MPD Sta. Cruz station.

Police led by Maj. Billy Ray Canagan carried an arrest warrant issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 36 in arresting Pagente, who also works as a senior health program officer, according to police.

Pagente faces charges for violating Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code that was amended by Presidential Decree Nos. 960 and 969 – or immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows that “offend any race or religion” – and Section 6 of Republic Act  No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 after a video of a performance that went viral in July.

Manila RTC Branch 36 acting presiding Judge Czarina Encarnacion Samonte-Villanueva set bail at P72,000, the MPD said.

“Vega’s (Pagente) performance may offend some, but it is protected expression under international human rights law. Freedom of expression includes artistic expression that offends, satirizes, or challenges religious beliefs,” Thoreson said.

“As the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the freedom of religion or belief has said, ‘the international normative standard is clear: States may not impose punishment for insults, criticism or giving offence to religious ideas, icons or places, nor can laws be used to protect the feelings of religious communities,’” he added. 

While freedom of expression can be limited for narrow reasons of national security or public order, such as incitement to violence, Thoreson noted that Pagente’s performance, however controversial, does not fall into those exceptions.

To prevent future censorship of controversial viewpoints, Thoreson said lawmakers in the Philippines should amend or eliminate Article 201 to ensure that religious beliefs cannot be misused to deny others their human right to free expression.

Members of the Hijos del Nazareno-Central and Balangay officers of the Quiapo Church sued Pagente for what they asserted was a blasphemous act when Vega performed a rock remix of Filipino Catholic hymn “The Lord’s Prayer” or “Ama Namin”  in a bar. They believed it was a “direct attack on Jesus Christ” as the Black Nazarene, whom Pagente allegedly portrayed.

Pagente was not able to attend initial hearings of the complaint the group filed. He said he did not receive any summon from the Manila city prosecutor.

Pagente also posted photos showing he attended hearings in Quezon City for similar cases slapped against him by the Philippines for Jesus Movement.

Hijos del Nazareno adviser Alex Irasga said his group has not received any resolution from the Manila prosecutor, nor any notice from the court.

Not a crime

Members of the country's LGBTQIA+ community and other netizens also rallied behind Pagente.

On X (formerly Twitter), Pagente’s arrest was the second-most trending topic on Thursday, Oct. 5, as the drag artist’s arrest was denounced, along with the discrimination against drag performances. 

“DRAG IS NOT A CRIME! FREE PURA LUKA VEGA!” said Rod Singh, “Drag Den Philippines” director,  along with a statement recalling the arrest. Vega was a contestant in the drag pageant’s inaugural season.

Singh also set up a donation drive for Vega’s P72,000 bail. 

Others echoed Singh’s “drag is not a crime” pronouncement. Aside from emphasizing it, netizens said drag is a form of art that is used to entertain or even bring awareness to social issues. 

“Drag is art – it is daring, it has fangs, and it fights. It is not a crime, and drag artists are not criminals,” Lau Reyes, Southern Tagalog Pride’s deputy secretary general, said in Filipino. 

Writer Alfonso Manalastas lamented Pagente was jailed “knowing full well how especially dangerous jails are for queer people.”

“Because your arbitrary feelings were offended? Is this what your God wants?” he asked.

In a statement, Bahaghari Philippines noted “double standards” for the LGBTQIA+ community. 

The group said “heterosexual personalities and comedians continue to regularly make a mockery of Christ and other religious symbols as part of “comedy” and yet none of them has suffered what Pagente is going through.

In a separate post, one netizen recalled that former president Rodrigo Duterte once remarked, “Who is this stupid God?” in 2018.

Pagente’s fellow drag artists also showed support, including Drag Den Philippines, and Drag Race Philippines participants. 

“Pura Luka Vega was arrested by un-uniformed police. Nakakalungkot. Nakakagalit. Pero higit sa lahat, nakakatakot itong balita (It’s saddening and upsetting. More importantly, this news is scary),” Marina Summers, Drag Race Philippines Season 1 runner-up, said.

Reigning Drag Den Philippines winner NAIA visited Pagente on the night of his arrest and gave her food and letters as they were limited to non-verbal communication. 

Singer Nica del Rosario and other social media users expressed belief that while it is valid for the religious to be offended by Pagente, putting him behind bars is too much. "And celebrating this fact, when there are literal murderers and plunderers, people who spit on human rights, running free in this country,” she lamented. 

Mela Hajiban, the first-even Miss Trans Global, added Vega unlikely committed a criminal act. She pointed out “hypocrisy,” given the government is filled with thieves who are neither charged nor arrested.