By Junex Doronio
IS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION really absolute?
This was the question raised by many as 33-year-old Amadeus Fernando Pagente, popularly known as Pura Luka Vega was freed from detention on Saturday afternoon.
The LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual) community believes that the drag artist did was nothing but an “art” and “freedom of expression.”
Another surprise was the outpouring of support for Pura Luka Vega that on Friday, October 6, the LGTQIA community led by Rod Singh, the director of Drag Den, managed to raise over 500,000 in donations, way above the P72,000 bail recommended for the release of the controversial drag artist.
Luka Pura Vega’s supporters claimed that their fundraising efforts were to show solidarity against what they said was a form of censorship and discrimination.
Pura Luka Vega was declared persona non grata by at least 17 localities and arrested for alleged violation of law following their performance of “Ama Namin,” a punk rock version of the Lord’s Prayer.
Pagente’s release was confirmed by P/Lt. Col. Leandro Gutierrez, the Chief of Manila Police District (MPD) Station 3.
To recall, Pagente who as Pura Luka Vega uses the pronouns they/them, was arrested by the Manila police on Wednesday, October 4, over an alleged violation of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), specifically Article 201, which pertains to the propagation of “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows.”
In August, the Catholic devotee group Hijos Del Nazareno (HDN) Central filed two complaints against Pura, saying that the “Ama Namin” performance by the drag artist constituted a “direct attack on our Lord, our God, and savior, Jesus Christ,” which they said caused them pain as Christians. (ai/mnm)
