Ice Seguerra to lawmakers after Pura Luka Vega’s arrest: ‘Saan ‘yung separation of church, state?’

Ice Seguerra condemned the arrest of his fellow LGBTQIA+ community member, drag artist Pura Luka Vega, which he stressed is a testament to how “archaic” Philippine laws are.

The actor-singer lamented the absence of laws to protect the community also from unjust treatment because of religion, as per his Facebook page on Thursday, Oct. 5.

“This only goes to show how archaic Philippine laws are,” Seguerra said, showing a mug shot of Pura Luka.

“Madaling magsampa ng kaso sa isang taong naka ‘offend’ ng religious beliefs nang karamihan but meanwhile, wala pa ring karapatan sa mata ng batas ang mga LGBTQIA persons na tinatanggalan ng trabaho, sinasaktan, pinapatay na most often than not, ay dahil din sa religion,” he continued.

(It is easy to file charges against someone who “offended” religious beliefs of the majority but meanwhile, the law still does not recognize the rights of LGBTQIA+ members who were dismissed from their jobs, assaulted and killed, most often than not, because of religion as well.)

Seguerra further underscored how criminal charges can be hastily filed against LGBTQIA+ members when they offend beliefs, yet such is not the case for the latter when they are the ones aggrieved.

“Sa inyo, nung paniniwala ninyo ang tinamaan, grabe na kayo makaalma. Ang bilis niyong magsampa ng kaso. Kami, kabuhayan, karapatan, at dignidad ang inaalis ninyo sa amin pero ano, kibit-balikat lang at kailangan lang namin tanggapin at unawain?” he stressed.

(When your faith is insulted, you cry foul and immediately file lawsuits. In our case, we were already stripped of our rights, jobs and dignity, but all we can do is shrug it off, accept and be understanding.)

“To our lawmakers, saan na ang sinasabi ninyong separation of church and state? Saan ‘yung sinasabi niyong kaya kayo nandiyan ay para gumawa ng mga batas na pangkalahatan?” he asked.

(To our lawmakers, where is the separation of church and state that you speak of? What happened to your vow to make laws for all members of  society?)

Seguerra also had discussions with some netizens in the comments section, wherein he reiterated that he understands the sentiments of those offended but that the “imbalance of the passage of specific laws” in the country should also be addressed.

Pura Luka, whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente and who goes by the pronouns they/them, was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 4, following charges of “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows.”

The arrest order stemmed from the complaint filed by devotees of the Black Nazarene led by the Hijos del Nazareno-Central over Pura Luka’s “Ama Namin” drag performance.  /ra