17 Talisay students "possessed"

CEBU, Philippines - Around 17 students of the Jaclupan National High School were allegedly possessed by spirits while attending their classes yesterday morning in Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City.

An old man, a crying baby, and a demon were allegedly seen by the students before a 16 year-old fourth year student suddenly fell unconscious.

This was then followed by successive possessions of 14 other fourth year students and two second year students.

Father Nestor Astillo, parish priest of the Sto. Niño Church in Barangay Jaclupan, told The FREEMAN that the allegedly possessed students had sudden changes in their behavior, showed unusual strength, and change of voice.

The students were then taken to Mary’s Little Children, a charismatic community, in Barangay Tabunok.

Members of the community prayed over the students for an hour before they regained consciousness.

A 15-year-old second year high school student said that she was inside her classroom when her classmate told her to go out but she allegedly heard a voice commanding her not to listen to anyone.

“Naay nag-ingon nako nga dili na tinuod unya dili ko papaulion, dili sad kuno ko pasudlon og simbahan, (I heard somebody tell me not to go home and not to go inside a church),” the girl said.

The girl added that somebody tapped her shoulder before she became unconscious.

“Ingon sila pwerte kuno nakong siyagit pero wala na koy kalibutan wala nakoy nahinumduman, (They said I screamed but I had no idea. I don’t remember anything),” she said.

Sister Selfa Ho, evangelizer at the Mary’s Little Children, explained that most of the students did not receive the sacraments and did not go to confession, which became an entry point for the spirits to enter them.

“Kasagaran nila naay emotional wounds caused by the relation of the family ug self-pity, (Most of them have emotional wounds cause by family relations and self-pity),” Ho said.

Ho claimed that depression, fear, and lack of faith are common entry points attacked by the spirits.

“Kung asa to imohang weak adto sila mo-attack mao nang ma-possessed ang tao unya ang mutabang kay spiritually unprepared so maapil sad og ka-possessed, (Where you are weakest, that’s what they will attack which is why a person gets possessed and whenever someone spiritually unprepares will help, they also become possessed),” she said.

A team of evangelizers is set to go to Jaclupan National High School today for a seminar, binding and casting of evil spirits, and school blessing. —/MIT (FREEMAN)