5 students in Talisay City, Cebu display signs of alleged ‘possession’

Five students of Jaclupan National High School in Talisay City, Cebu reportedly experienced episodes of possession. 

Video footage showed a student thrashing about, yelling, and exhibiting strength beyond normal while being assisted out of the school by at least three men.

According to Johnas Villaver, school principal, the incident took place past 3 p.m. on March 4, 2024, Monday. Four Grade 8 students complained of stomachache and shortness of breath. Minutes after, the said students started moving about in a disturbing manner and were crying loudly.

Villaver said they had to suspend classes on March 4 and 5, 2024 to be able to attend to the five students first and to avoid mass hysteria given that the school already has records of mass hysteria and possession in 2012 and 2018.

Villaver narrated that four of the students were dancers who joined the Sinulog festival in Jaclupan on February 25, 2024 during the barangay’s fiesta celebration. 

During the festivity, the dancers reportedly experienced fainting spells.

On February 26, 2024, two of the students, who are cousins, complained of stomach pains and chest pains.

They were taken to the hospital for medical attention, but according to their parents the examination results rendered negative. They took modular learning the week prior to the incident, but on March 4, 2024 the two asked to report to school. 

The cousins went hysterical allegedly while at school which purportedly rubbed on to other students. On the night of March 5, 2024, the cousins ages 15 years old and 13 years old displayed convulsions once more and thrashed about which alarmed members of their respective families. 

They were taken to the Mary Little Child Community formation center for deliverance rites.

The nuns who performed deliverance prayers refused an on-camera interview, but they said that the two students exhibited conditions of possession.

The two students could not remember a thing though when they were asked after the ritual.

A Holy Mass was offered for the healing of the five students on March 6, 2024. The school offers a regular Mass every first Wednesday of the month.

Fr. Peter Chukwu Osuji of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, who officiated the Mass, said the students have to go undergo checkup both physically and spiritually.

Officials of Department of Education-Talisay City Division visited the said school to assist the school, students, and teachers. On March 7, 2024 prior to the start of classes, a session on psychosocial support is scheduled. 

According to Evelyn Gabiana, Jaclupan barangay administrator, they are set to coordinate with the  Talisay City Social Welfare Office for counseling of children and their parents. —GMA Regional TV