QC Court Dismisses Three Criminal Cases Against Pura Luka Vega
The Quezon City Regional Trial Court has dismissed three criminal cases filed against drag artist Pura Luka Vega.
In a 25-page joint resolution dated September 19, the QC RTC Branch 306 granted the motion of the popular drag artist Amadeus Fernando Pagente’s camp to file a demurrer to evidence.
The resolution effectively dismissed the complaints of violating Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Article 201 penalizes acts related to immoral doctrines, obscene publications, and indecent shows.
A demurrer to evidence is a legal remedy that questions whether the prosecution has presented enough proof to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. In this case, the court found two major weaknesses in the complaints.
First, the prosecution failed to properly authenticate the main video evidence of Pura’s controversial performance. Second, the private complainants who filed the cases had no legal standing to do so.
Because of these reasons, the court ruled that the evidence was insufficient to prove guilt, leading to the dismissal of the cases. Pura Luka Vega shared the resolution online, expressing gratitude for the outcome, though acknowledging that the complainants could still file a motion for reconsideration.
The cases stemmed from a viral drag performance of Pura in August 2023, where they performed the Lord’s Prayer while dressed in a Jesus-inspired costume. A religious group, Hijos Del Nazareno, claimed the act was a direct attack on their faith and filed the complaints.
It was not the first time Pura has been cleared of similar charges. In June 2025, the Manila Regional Trial Court also dismissed a separate case under the same law.
As of this writing, the ruling brings relief to Pura and their supporters, while the legal battle continues to watch for possible appeals.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the court’s decision:
