Pura Luka Vega released on bail

Pura Luka Vega has been released from jail, three days after their arrest in line with the criminal complaint filed against them over their controversial Ama Namin performance.

The Manila Police District (MPD) confirmed that the drag artist, born Amadeus Fernando Pagente, was released from the Santa Cruz Police Station on bail on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 7. The bail was set at P72,000.

Vega was arrested Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 4 as ordered by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 36 after not showing up at the preliminary investigations of their case in Manila in connection with their viral performance, where they sang a remix of Ama Namin or The Lord’s Prayer to a cheering crowd at a bar.

They were accused of violating Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code and were charged with immoral doctrine, obscene, publications and exhibition, and indecent shows. 

In an interview that aired on News5, the drag queen said they found their arrest "a bit quick" and "unfair" as they did not receive a subpoena in line with the case filed against them. 

"It was a bit quick. My side of the story or the motion, hindi naman ako nabigyan ng enough time to submit the documents we've been wanting to submit," Vega said.

"We did not receive the subpoena," he stressed. "Immediately, when the media took coverage of that incident, we went to Manila City Hall and stated our case that indeed, we did not receive the subpoena, it was not addressed to my current address. I don't know if that was taken into account."

Aside from Manila, Vega said they’re also facing other criminal complaints in Quezon City in line with the same issue.

"I've been trying to deal with all of the cases that were charged against me and so far, I did face all of the charges, went to the courts for the three cases that were filed [against] me in Manila and QC," they said.