PALAYAN CITY — Drag performer Pura Luka Vega whose “religiously offensive video” trended in social media has been declared persona non grata in Nueva Ecija, a provincial legislator said Friday.
3rd District board member Jojo Matias said sangguniang panlalawigan members unanimously approved a resolution he introduced which sought the said declaration.
In his measure, Matias said that Vega’s recent performance deeply hurt the feeling of the religious community, in violation of the constitutional guarantee on the free exercise of religion.
“Sapagkat, si Pura Luka Vega, sa pamamagitan ng isang kamakailang pagtatanghal, ay nagdulot ng malalim na pagsakit ng damdamin sa komunidad ng mga Kristiyano, sa mga kilos at pahayag na itinuturing na walang galang at derogatoryo patungo sa kanilang paniniwalang relihiyoso,” part of the measure’s explanatory reads.
Vega’s act earned the ire of netizens when her performance of a dance remix of the Ama Namin (Our Lord’s Prayer) hit social media.
“Ang Saligang Batas ng Republika ng Pilipinas sa ilalim ng Artikulo III, Seksyon 5 ay nagbibigay-garantiya sa malayang pagganap at pagpapahalaga sa relihiyosong propesyon at pagsamba, nang walang diskriminasyon o preference, kaya’t ang mga kilos na ofensibo sa anumang grupong relihiyoso ay itinuturing na hindi angkop,” the measure added.
Matias explained that while the board recognizes the freedom of expression and the rights of performers like Vega these should be attended with respect to religious belief of every citizen and avoid deliberate insult to such belief.
