A series of bizarre incidents involving students allegedly being possessed by evil
spirits have occurred in several schools in Bohol province in the past few months.
The latest incident happened on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at the Clarin
National School of Fisheries in Clarin town, where at least 50 students reportedly
exhibited signs of demonic possession in the middle of their class.
According to witnesses, the students started to tremble, scream, faint, and act
violently.
Some of them claimed to see dark figures or feel something heavy on their bodies.
The students were taken to a local hospital for treatment and counseling.
This was not the first time that such an incident happened in Bohol.
The recent incident at Clarin, Bohol was not the first case of mass hysteria, or what
others have called as “evil attacks,” in Bohol.
In the past few months, several schools in the province and even in Cebu reported
similar incidents involving students allegedly being possessed by spirits.
Authorities and experts have different explanations for these incidents, ranging from
scientific to supernatural.
In October 2023, up to 14 students of Hinawanan National High School in Loay town
were also said to be possessed by an evil spirit while in the middle of their class.
The students were brought to the local priest for exorcism and to the Rural Health
Unit for examination.
A priest of the Catholic church said he witnessed the students being possessed by
an evil spirit and that he performed exorcism rites on them.
He said the students were victims of the devil’s attack and that they needed prayers
and spiritual guidance.
“I saw them shaking, crying, and shouting. Some of them were saying ‘get out of me’
or ‘leave me alone’. I prayed over them and sprinkled holy water on them. Some of
them calmed down, but others remained restless,” the priest was quoted as saying in
media reports.
Last September, nearly 200 students of San Jose National High School in Talibon
town were also allegedly possessed by spirits during a Catholic mass held at the
school gymnasium.
The students trembled, fainted, and showed unusual strength before passing out.
They were rushed to the Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital for medical attention.
The school principal suspended the classes due to the incident.
Talibon Mayor Janette Garcia said that what happened in San Jose National High
School was a case of mass hysteria, which is also known as mass dissociative
phenomena.
This phenomenon usually happens in young individuals who are experiencing
anxiety or fear.
An official of the Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital agreed with this diagnosis and
said that the students were not possessed by evil spirits but by their own emotions.
“There is no scientific evidence that they were possessed by evil spirits. They were
just overwhelmed by their feelings and thoughts. They need psychological and
emotional support, not exorcism,” the official said.
Meanwhile, in the province of Cebu, in September this year, eight students of
Cansuje Argao National High School in Argao town were also reported to have been
possessed with evil spirits.
One of the students claimed she had a third eye and that she saw a huge black
person before she was possessed. The students were attended to by the barangay
councilor and the school nurse.
Also in September 2023, 12 students of Alicia National High School in Alicia town in
Bohol also showed signs of being possessed by evil spirits during their class.
The students screamed, cried, and convulsed uncontrollably.
Some of them said they saw a woman in white or a man in black.
The students were taken to the Alicia Municipal Health Office for treatment.
The authorities and experts have different explanations for these incidents.
In October this year, some female students of Dr. Cecilio Putong National High
School (DCPNHS) in Tagbilaran City experienced seizures and fainting spells.
Some of the students claimed they were possessed by evil spirits, while others said
that they were suffering from stress and fatigue.
The incident happened around 7:30 a.m., when the students were gathered at the
school grounds for a morning program.
According to witnesses, some of the students started to shake, cry, and collapse.
Some of them also exhibited unusual behavior, such as speaking in tongues, biting
their classmates, or running away. The school staff and security personnel tried to
calm down and restrain the students, while calling for medical assistance.
The students were brought to the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital
(GCGMH) for check-up and treatment.
A GCGMH physician said the students were stable and did not show any signs of
physical injury or illness.
She said the students were likely suffering from mass hysteria, which is a
psychological phenomenon that affects groups of people who share a common belief
or fear.
“Mass hysteria is a collective response to a perceived threat or stressor. It can
manifest in various ways, such as physical symptoms, emotional reactions, or
behavioral changes. It usually occurs in closed or isolated groups, such as schools,
workplaces, or religious communities. It can be triggered by rumors, media reports,
or environmental factors,” the physician, who did not want to be named, explained.
The doctor said the students were also affected by the pandemic and the online
learning system, which caused them to experience anxiety, boredom, and frustration,
stressing that the students needed psychological and emotional support, not
exorcism or supernatural intervention.
However, some religious leaders and locals believe there is a supernatural element
behind these incidents.
A Bol-anon priest has said he could attest that the students being possessed by evil
spirits.
The priest said the students were victims of the devil’s attack and that they need to
draw themselves to God by prayers and reading the Bible.
He pointed out that excessive exposure to evil-like images, sounds and videos on
social media sites might have contributed to the demonic possessions.
Some residents also attributed the incidents to the presence of cults, witchcraft, or
curses in Bohol.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has not issued any official statement on these
incidents.
However, it has advised the schools to conduct psychosocial interventions and
stress debriefing sessions for the affected students and teachers.
DepEd has also urged the public to refrain from spreading false or unverified
information that could cause panic or confusion.
“We are doing our best to help our students cope with the situation. We are also
asking the parents to monitor their children’s mental health and well-being. We are
also requesting the public to refrain from spreading false or unverified information
that could cause panic or confusion,” a school official was quoted as saying in an
online news reports.