Drag artist declared persona non grata in Bukidnon

MANILA, Philippines — Drag artist Amadeus Fernando Pagente, alias Pura Luka Vega, has been declared persona non grata in Bukidnon, according to a two-page resolution of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The resolution, a copy of which was sent to the office of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, said Bukidnon ”condemns the video that made a mockery of the Christian and Islamic faiths and disrespected The Lord’s Prayer,” referring to the drag artist’s impersonation of Jesus in performances.

Vega’s performances ”demean the sensibilities of our Christian brothers and sisters and deeply offend the faith of millions of Filipinos,” the resolution stated.

The Manila and General Santos city councils as well as the town councils of Toboso in Negros Occidental and Floridablanca in Pampanga had earlier declared Vega as persona non grata.

Leaders of Christian churches filed a complaint against Vega before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act and Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code.

Article 201 penalizes those who perform  ”indecent or immoral” plays, scenes, acts or shows, whether live or in film, which “offend any race or religion.”