"Evil spirits" strike again in same school

CEBU, Philippines - Fear again struck the Jaclupan National High School after 14 students were reportedly possessed by evil spirits yesterday morning, a day after 17 students of the same school experienced the same in Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City.

Twelve of those possessed were students while one was a mother who was about to meet her daughter in school and the other was a girl who tried to help her younger sister.

Some of the 12 students were the same ones who were also allegedly possessed last Monday. The students were taken to the Mary’s Little Children, a charismatic community in Barangay Tabunok.

The school is located at a hilly portion of the barangay and is surrounded by several big trees. Local folklore commonly holds that big trees house resident spirits

Leny Nebria, the mother of one of the students, said she was about to enter the school premises when she suddenly felt cold and collapsed. She was attended to by her older sibling until she regained consciousness.

Right after Msgr. Frederick Kriekenbeek, official exorcist of the Archdiocese of Cebu, celebrated Mass at the school, a third year student who was about to enter the school also became possessed. She was carried to one of the classrooms by four men where Kriekenbeek prayed over her. The student regained consciousness a few minutes later.

According to Kriekenbeek the “attack” of the evil spirits was not because of the big trees that surrounded the school but because of the environmental factors that prompted man to commit mistakes.

But Cebu Normal University psychologist Emmanuel Hernani said what happened to the students may have been mass hysteria, a spontaneous manifestation of the same or similar hysterical physical symptoms by more than one person.

Hernani said students could be affected by a scene if they experience the same guilt.

“Possible adrenaline rush or takod-takod sa unsay nasaksihan sa ubang tao nga naka-trigger sa ilaha kay they have the same experience,” Hernani said over a GMA-7 Balitang Bisdak interview.—/BRP (FREEMAN)