Pura Luka Vega declared persona non grata in Bohol

FILE / IG: @puralukavega

TAGBILARAN CITY — The Bohol provincial board has declared controversial drag queen and vlogger Amadeus Fernando Pagente, also known by their stage name Pura Luka Vega, a persona non grata on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

“The portrayal of religious figures in a manner that is disrespectful or offensive to the religious sentiments of individuals and communities is not conducive to promoting harmony and mutual respect within our society,” read the resolution passed during the board’s regular session.

Bohol’s 1.2 million residents are predominantly Catholic. Its centuries-old churches are preserved to serve as a testament to their faith.

“The province of Bohol values its diverse population and aims to uphold respect for all religious beliefs, traditions, and practices,” the resolution stated.

The other localities where Pagente was declared persona non grata are Manila, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon, General Santos City, Floridablanca in Pampanga, and Toboso in Negros Occidental.

READ: Occidental Mindoro declares Pura Luka Vega ‘persona non grata’

The persona non grata declarations came in response to a viral video showing the drag artist wearing a Black Nazarene-inspired costume while dancing to a remix of the song of Ama Namin (Our Father) in a local bar on July 10.

Last July 31, several religious leaders filed a complaint against Pagente for violating Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code which penalizes “immoral doctrines, obscene publications, and exhibitions and indecent shows.”

Pagente’s video, which was posted on Twitter, caused an uproar and initiated public discussions about freedom of expression and the LGBTQ+ community’s relationship with churches.

The controversial video was subsequently removed.

The drag artist, however, has not issued an apology, saying they did nothing wrong as it was only self-expression.

READ: Pura Luka Vega repeats performance amid lawsuit, ‘persona non grata’ tag