Some residents worried over “witch” in Buhisan

CEBU, Philippines -  A rumor about a “witch” who turns into a black cat and has allegedly killed two children in Barangay Buhisan, Cebu City is scaring off some residents prompting them to go inside their homes early to avoid being attacked.

Sylvia Sabidor, 65, a resident of Sitio Puso, Barangay Buhisan narrated that her one-week-old grandson was attacked by a black cat while the baby was asleep beside his parents and seven other siblings inside their house on Wednesday evening.

The baby’s parents, Aquilles and Lorna Sabidor, reportedly woke up when their youngest child cried. “Nakit-an nila nga dunay iring itom nga midagan ug milusot paingon sa gawas agi sa lungag sa bungbong sa balay,” said the baby’s grandmother.

The Sabidor couple’s small house, situated near a bamboo plantation, is made up of scrapped light materials which is why it was easy for the cat to get inside through the holes. 

When the mother inspected her child’s body, she noticed that there was blood oozing from his nose and there were wounds on his neck that looked like a bite of a cat.

“Wala g’yuy lain, kadto g’yud nga iring maoy nagpaak sa akong apo. Ungo g’yud to nga nagpairing-iring lang,” said Sylvia.

Police Inspector Jeciree Saquilabon of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7, who is residing at Sitio Puso in Buhisan, said that she also heard rumors that a woman was seen running away from the house after the boy was bitten by the cat.

Buhisan Barangay Captain Gremar Barete did not confirm nor deny that the boy was attacked by a cat which residents believe is a witch, but he promised to look into it.

The child’s grandmother said her other one-month old grandson also died a few months ago and the boy’s neck also had an injury. “Mao gihapon ang namatyan sa usa nako ka apo, may pinaakan sa liog ug nagdugo ang ilong. Mura’g gisupsop ang pinaakan,” she said.

The health officials were not able to examine the baby’s body since it was immediately buried yesterday afternoon. — (FREEMAN)