Drag queen Pura Luka Veg,a who was arrested in connection to their controversial Ama Namin remix performance, was released on bail on Saturday.
Police confirmed the temporary release of Pura Luka, as reported by GMA News Online.
“Matapos makapag-piyansa, kaninang umaga ay may inilabas na release order ang korte para kay Pura Luka Vega kaya immediately noong dinala sa MPD Station 3, na-release natin sir,” Police Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, Director of Manila Police District (MPD), was quoted as saying on Super Radyo DZBB.
Last Wednesday, the former Drag Den Philippines contestant was arrested for charges of immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows in relation to section 6 of the Republic Act No. 10175.
This was after Pura Luka’s previous drag performance where they were dressed in Jesus’ costume and jammed to a punk rock version of Catholic song Ama Namin.
This sparked a divided and heated discourse online, with some deeming the performance and “blasphemous” act and “disrespectful to the Catholic church,” while some defended the drag community in the video and their “expressions of art”.
Following Pura Luka’s arrest, supporters took to X (formerly Twitter) to demand their release with the hashtag #FreePuraLuka, and heeded call for donations to cover their P72,000 bail.
As shared by film director and writer Rod Singh, the donations reached over P550,000 on Friday, with fellow drag artists coming together on Sunday at the Brooklyn Warehouse in Manila for a series of performances and bazaar in solidarity with Pura Luka.
