Mc Richard Paglicawan
The drag queen community, along with supporters, has rallied behind Amadeus Fernando Pagente, popularly known as Pura Luka Vega, as donations poured in to help secure her release following her arrest.
Pura Luka Vega was arrested at her residence in Sta. Cruz, Manila on October 4, 2023, in connection with her controversial ‘Ama Namin’ drag performance.
To facilitate her release on bail, which is set at ₱72,000, fellow drag queens initiated a donation drive. The campaign quickly gained momentum, with contributions coming in from supporters across the country.
An update on the donation drive was shared by Rod Singh, the showrunner of Drag Den, through a Facebook post on Friday, October 6.
According to Singh’s post, the total donations received for Pura have exceeded ₱552,899.22.
The post was captioned with gratitude: “1 pm update. Thank you for your donations! 💕” Alongside the update, Singh emphasized that they are currently awaiting a decision regarding their motion for bail, and they have been using the hashtag #FreePuraLukaVega to raise awareness and support for her cause.
1pm update
Thank you for your donations! 💕
For now, we are still waiting for the decision regarding our motion for bail. #FreePuraLukaVega pic.twitter.com/HgtdjWizGI
— rod singh (@iamrodafrog) October 6, 2023
Pura Luka Vega’s arrest has ignited discussions surrounding freedom of expression and LGBTQ+ rights in the Philippines, drawing attention to the challenges and controversies faced by the LGBTQ+ community in the country.
