By Junex Doronio

DECLARED PERSONA NON GRATA in at least 17 localities for his alleged blasphemous “Ama Namin” video, the unrepentant drag artist Pura Luka Vega is now behind bars after he was arrested in his home in Sta. Cruz, Manila by Manila Police District (MPD) operatives on Wednesday afternoon.

MPD spokesperson Maj. Philipp Ines disclosed that the drag performer, whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagante, is now being held at the Santa Cruz Police Station.

The arrest warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 36 Manila for violation of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, with a recommended bail of ₱72,000.

Maharlika NuMedia learned that the Christian group Philippines for Jesus Movement earlier sued Pura Luka Vega for his rock rendition of “Ama Namin,” or the Lord’s Prayer, which was denounced by many as “blasphemous.”

Based on Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code there’s penalty for “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows.”

The LGBTQI+ community, however, protested Pura Luka Vega’s arrest.

“The arrest warrant was issued today despite filing a motion to reopen today. They are now in police custody,” Drag Den Philippines showrunner Rod Singh on Wednesday, October 4, wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Singh also stood firm that Pura Luka Vega’s camp had still not yet received any subpoena for their preliminary investigations in Manila prior to the arrest.

Last September 13, Pura Luka Vega explained in an X post that they never received a subpoena for a criminal case that was allegedly filed against them in Manila.

“And I was also in [Quezon City] for a separate complaint that was filed there. I have no intention of ‘snubbing’ these complaints,” the drag artist claimed.

Pagante, who prefers to be called Pura Luka Vega, has been declared persona non grata by at least 17 local government units (LGUs).

Persona non grata is a Latin phrase meaning “person not appreciated” or “person not welcome.”

These LGUs were the following:

* General Santos City
* Floridablanca, Pampanga
* Laguna
* Manila
* Bukidnon
* Toboso, Negros Occidental
* Nueva Ecija
* Cebu City
* Cagayan de Oro
* Occidental Mindoro
* Dinagat Islands
* Lucena
* Mandaue City
* Bohol
* Marikina City
* Oriental Mindoro
* Malolos, Bulacan

(ai/mnm)

(Photos by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)