CLASSES at Fr. Gratian Murray Integrated School in Barangay Granada, Bacolod City were suspended Tuesday, July 9, after about 20 students were allegedly possessed by evil spirits.
Dondon Parandas, head of City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said they received a call around 8 a.m. that several students suddenly fainted and were screaming for unknown reason inside the school campus.
He said about eight students were brought to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital for treatment and were also discharged after an hour.
He added the City Health Office also responded to the area to conduct an assessment on the incident.
Those who were allegedly possessed were students from Grade 8 and Grade 9, all were female and some of them were brought to the church.
Due to the incident, the school management immediately announced the suspension of classes.
Police Captain Romulo Gepilango, chief of Police Station 5, said policemen were also deployed to the school to control the crowd.
He said the parents fetched their children to ensure their safety because most of them were scared.
He said the school management also called a priest, who prayed for the students.
Gepilango noted that on Monday, July 8, about six students were also allegedly possessed by evil spirits inside the school campus of Fr. Gratian Murray Integrated School.
Councilor Renecito Novero, chairperson of the City Council committee on education, said it depends upon the school principal to suspend the classes if he or she believes that it’s really needed for students.
“We cannot conclude yet if it’s really a genuine demonic possession, but it’s also possible because it involved more than 10 students. Let's pray for our students,” he said.
Novero also urged the school management to invite a priest to bless the school campus.