The Diocese of Tagbilaran will conduct today an inquiry and possibly an exorcism on students of Japer Memorial High School in Sagbayan who are believed to have been possessed by spirits after exhibiting bizarre behavior.

Fr. Agerio Paña, chancellor of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, told DYRD Balita that they will conduct an ocular inspection and other activities such as exorcism in the school located in Brgy. Sta Catalina.

Paña said that the officials of the Japer High School reached out to the diocese appealing to have the case investigated as the hysteria involving at least 25 children has been causing fear and panic among students, faculty and parents.

The Church will be sending exorcist priests Fr. Sinforiano Monton, Fr. Victor Bompat and Father Joseph Skelton to the affected area in Sagbayan.

The said priests have been given authority by the Church to conduct exorcism or a ceremony to drive out evil spirits believed to be possessing a person or place.

According to Paña, this will not be the first time that they will be performing an exorcism.

He said that they had conducted an exorcism on 20 students in Tagbilaran City two years ago.

However, Paña said that they are still going to verify if the Sagbayan incident is indeed a possession case as there are several other factors which could cause a sudden change in behavior and speech of children.

On Tuesday, Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Wilfreda Bongalos and a team conducted a psycho-social debriefing among the affected students.

The students were reportedly possessed by evil spirits after a gmelina tree believed to have been occupied by spirits was cut down inside the school almost a month ago.

The tally of “possessed” students were accumulated in a span of almost a month until Thursday last week. (Rey Tutas)

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