Photo credit: Pura Luka Vega Instagram

In a significant legal development, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 184 has acquitted drag artist Amadeus Fernando Pagente—more widely known as Pura Luka Vega—over charges related to a controversial performance that incorporated the Catholic liturgical song “Ama Namin.”

The announcement came from Luka’s volunteer legal team at Burkley and Aquino Law Offices, who confirmed the acquittal in a statement. The case had drawn intense public and media scrutiny since 2023, when a viral video of Luka’s drag performance, set to a remixed version of the sacred hymn, sparked outrage among certain religious groups.

Following the court’s decision, Pura Luka Vega responded with a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“Thank you for this wonderful news. 🙏 One more case left. Laban lang.”

(Translation: “Just one more case left. Keep fighting.”)

This legal win marks a turning point in what has been a long and emotional journey for Luka, who has become both a symbol of LGBTQ+ artistic expression and a lightning rod in ongoing conversations around freedom of expression, religion, and the boundaries of performance art in the Philippines.

While one more legal hurdle remains, this acquittal offers Luka—and their supporters—a sense of momentum and hope. It also raises broader questions about how art, faith, and identity intersect in the country’s cultural and legal landscape.

The community now awaits developments on the final pending case, with many watching closely to see what this means not just for Luka, but for creative and queer expression in the Philippines moving forward.