In September another of the cases filed against Pastor Edwin Egar, this time for murder, has been dismissed by a court in the Philippines. This is the third such case to have been brought by the authorities against Pastor Egar that has been dismissed for the complete lack of any evidence to connect him to the case.

He is still charged with one more crime and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) is attempting to have the case similarly dismissed. In the mean time, the UCCP is continuing to keep him in sanctuary to avoid him being targeted for further human rights abuses.

So far members of the Victoria and Tasmanian Synod have contributed $1,565 towards the costs of keeping Pastor Egar and Rev Apigo in sanctuary while the cases against them can be challenged in the courts. The donations include $1,000 from Sammy Stamp.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has written to the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania to say that the Australian Embassy in Manila will consider raising the cases of Pastor Egar and Rev Apigo with the Philippines authorities. The Department has also stated that they are examining options for delivering an expanded human rights capacity building program to the Philippines.