By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The 12th City Council of Manila has passed a resolute resolution, officially designating Drag Queen Pura Luka Vega, also known as Amadeus Fernando Pagente, as persona non grata.
Pura Luka Vega gained online attention through a series of performances that maliciously depicted himself as Jesus Christ or the Black Nazarene, causing offense to the Catholic faith.
The measures to declare the drag queen/artist as persona non grata received strong support from Vice Mayor Yul Servo and 16 District Councilors of Manila.
Manila is now at the forefront as the first local government in the National Capital Region to take such a stance, joining Bukidnon, Gen. Santos City, South Cotabato, Toboso in Negros Occidental, and Floridablanca in Pampanga.
In addition to being unwelcome in the City of Manila, the drag artist is also facing criminal charges filed by various religious groups.
(ai/mnm)
