A Davao City court dropped child abuse accusations against six administrators of a Christian church in Haran, Davao del Norte, that took in two Lumad children who died in their care, citing a lack of evidence.

In a seven-page decision released Monday, Presiding Judge Dante Baguio said in a seven-page decision that the prosecution failed to prove that the six administrators of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines intended to debase, degrade, or demean the intrinsic worth and dignity of the children as human beings.

“Not a single shred of evidence was offered to show that the accused were impelled by any ill-motive in facilitating and accommodating the children under their shelter,” the court said.

It went on to say that the prosecution produced no evidence that the church officials intended to mistreat the two Lumad children, “other than the circumstances in the shelter, which is not suitable for life.”

Despite this judgment, the court stated that there was no clear relationship between the “untidy” state of the shelter and the church managers’ liability for the deaths of the two infants.

The court also stated that no evidence was offered that church managers neglected to provide prompt medical attention to the ailing youngsters, resulting in their deaths.

Furthermore, the court stated that the newborns were accompanied by their parents, who had the ability and obligation to make decisions for their children at the time of their illness and subsequent death.

“Prosecution failed to show that accused interfered or hindered the parents of the subject children in performing, or much more prohibiting them from doing this responsibility,” the court said.

The accusations against Bishop Hamuel Tequis, Rev. Daniel Palicte, Ephraim Malazarte, Jong Monson, Lindy Trenilla, and Grace Avila were dropped as a result of these discoveries. The court also ordered the return of the P120,000 bail bond they deposited.