Drag artist Pura Luka Vega acquitted by Manila court

‘Thank you for this wonderful news. One more case left. Laban lang,’ the drag artist says on X

MANILA, Philippines – A Manila Regional Trial court on Tuesday, June 10, acquitted embattled drag artist Pura Luka Vega of charges of violating Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Amadeus Fernando Pagente (drag name: Pura Luka Vega) was sued by various religious groups after a viral video in July 2023 showed him performing the Ama Namin in drag.

Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code covers “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows.”

Presiding Judge Czarina Samonte-Villanueva of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 84, acquitted the drag artist because the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Pura was acquitted of the violations of doing indecent or immoral plays that 1) “offend any race or religion” and 2) “are contrary to law, public order, morals, and good customs, established policies, lawful orders, decrees and edicts.”

The court noted that Pura’s performance was intended for members of the LGBTQ+ community as it took place during a party for queer people.

The court also added that it was not Pura who uploaded the video that went viral, and that it cannot find any evidence that the drag artist caused the video to be uploaded on social media. The court emphasized that the drag artist cannot be held liable under the Cybercrime Prevention Act just because the performance was recorded and uploaded by another individual.

The court said that it would be faulting Pura for the actions of the audience if it was to hold the drag artist liable under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The court’s ruling also said that the complainants, who identified themselves as members of Hijos Del Nazareno, failed to prove that they were representatives of the “average Filipino” in claiming offense toward Pura Luka Vega’s actions. The court added that the complainants also admitted that they did not represent the entire organization they are a part of.

Given this, the Manila RTC also directed the cashier at the Clerk of Court to release the bond posted by Pura, amounting to P72,000.

The court, however, reminded Pura “to be circumspect in his choice of medium or subject of his performances as a drag artist taking into account the society he belongs to.”

Pura, meanwhile, celebrated the news of their acquittal on social media.

“Thank you for this wonderful news. One more case left. Laban lang (Keep fighting),” the drag artist said on X.

Pura Luka Vega was also sued by a group composed of Christian leaders over the controversial “Ama Namin” video in July 2023. Pura was then arrested in October 2023 after allegedly failing to appear at the preliminary investigations of their criminal case in Manila.

The drag artist was arrested again by the Manila Police District in February 2024, just days after posting bail in Pasay City for six counts of violation of Article 201 “in relation to Section 6 of R.A. 10175” following the Kapisanan ng Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas’ complaint.

The drag artist was likewise declared persona non grata in 11 localities in the Philippines. – Rappler.com