CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The city council on Monday, August 14, declared Amadeus Fernando Pagente, also known as Pura Luka Vega, persona non grata.
Resolution No. 2023-478 was approved for Pagente’s “serious disrespect and mockery of the Christian faith by portraying himself as the Black Nazarene dancing the remixed version of the Catholic song ‘Ama Namin’ (Our Father) in a recent viral video.”
Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, in his special report, stated that the act committed by the drag artist is "sacrilegious" and "disrespectful," and is a violation of Article 133 of Section 4, or Offending the Religious Feelings, of the Revised Penal Code.
Under Article 133, anyone who commits activities that are known to be hurtful to religious believers while in a place of worship or while participating in a religious ritual will face penalties ranging from arresto mayor in its maximum term to prision correctional in its minimum period.
"You are violating the law. You are offending the faithful's feelings. And for a Christian nation, you are not a person with dignity," Nacaya said.
The legislator approved activities involving drag performers and members of the LGBTQ+ community. But he said insulting religious practices, faith, and how to pray to God is a different story.
Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez found Pagente’s performance "so distasteful," saying that it’s a mockery of the Catholic faith. She emphasized the importance of respecting one’s religion.
Pagente responded to the unwanted person declarations initiated by different local government units (LGUs), saying he has been declared persona non grata without knowing him or understanding the intent of his performance.
"You judge me, yet you don’t even know me," Vega said in a Twitter post on August 10.
Councilor Joyleen Mercedes Balaba commented on Pagente’s statement that "Drag is art," saying that in her personal opinion, it is not art, especially if it violates the Catholic faith.
Balaba backed the approval of the resolution just to let him know that "not everything you want to do, you can do."
Aside from this city, Pagente has been declared persona non grata in Manila, General Santos City, Floridablanca in Pampanga, Toboso in Negros Occidental, Nueva Ecija province, and Bukidnon province.