Black Nazarene devotees file complaint vs. Pura Luka Vega

The Hijos Del Nazareno (HDN) Central, composed of devotees of the Black Nazarene, on Thursday filed a complaint against Pura Luka Vega with the Manila Prosecutor's Office.

In a nine-page complaint, the HDN Central said Pura Luka Vega violated Article 201(2)(b)(3) and 201(2)(3)(5), in relation to Section 6, of the Revised Penal Code and Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Other respondents named were the establishment owner where Pura Luka Vega performed a rock remix of "Ama Namin” in a costume inspired by the Black Nazarene and “people who joined” her as a co-performer.

“Pura Luka Vega’s acts and actuations constitute a direct attack on our Lord, our God and savior, Jesus Christ. His acts cut painfully deep right into the core of our faith and belief, painfully wounding us spiritually, morally, and mentally,” the group said in the complaint.

The group also said that they saw from the social media accounts of Pura Luka Vega and other netizens that she had been impersonating and mimicking Jesus Christ since 2021.

GMA News Online reached out to Pura Luka Vega for comment on the complaint but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.

In an interview with GMA News Online in July, the drag artist said her performance was not meant to be disrespectful and that the song was her way of reconciling her Catholic faith with her queerness. Performing it in public is an "embodiment of God's love for all."

However, the complainants said Pura Luka Vega remained “unrepentant and unapologetic,” which added insult to injury.

“In as much as Pura Luka Vega enjoys the freedom of artistic expression, he has the correlative duty as a citizen to obey the law and to act within the bounds of the laws,” the group said.

In their official statement, the HDN Central said the filing of their complaint is not an attack against members of the LGBTQIA+ community and the freedom of art.

“Ang usapin po dito ay ang paglapastangan sa ating Panginoon at sa ating paniniwala bilang mga Kristyano. Bilang isang demokratikong bayan na naniniwala sa kahalagahan ng karapatan at kalayaan, dapat, ay walang natatapakang iba,” they said.

Pura Luka Vega has been declared persona non grata in Manila, General Santos City, Floridablanca in Pampanga, and Toboso in Negros Occidental, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, and Cagayan De Oro.—AOL, GMA Integrated News