22 HS students in Cotabato 'possessed'

COTABATO CITY - Teachers on Wednesday suspended classes at the Notre Dame Village High School here after 22 students reportedly got "possessed” by what superstitious folks believe as spirits.

School principal Samuel Bayeta told reporters that the 22 students first complained of nausea before convulsing in the presence of their classmates and then fainted one after another.

Bayeta declined to reveal the identities of the students.

The school principal said that the students jerked wildly and it took five to six people to restrain them.

Bayeta said he asked Muslim and Catholic preachers to perform exorcism rites at the school.

He said he has also recommended to the parents of the 22 students to have them checked thoroughly by physicians and their blood samples submitted to a laboratory for proper screening.