FIVE students from a private college in Cebu City and a barangay tanod were brought to a church in Barangay Punta Princesa after they were allegedly possessed by evil spirits while camping on their campus at Saturday dawn, August 31, 2019.
The five students were part of a group of 80 education students of a private college that were camping at their campus as part of their three-day educational exposure.
Jay (not his real name), one of the instructors of the college, told Superbalita Cebu that they were supposed to end their camping on Saturday when while they were sleeping, they were awoken to cries from some of their students at around 12 midnight.
Five of their students were exhibiting behaviour as though they were possessed by evil spirits, Jay said.
Aside from the students, a barangay tanod who was assisting the teachers in calming the students was also allegedly possessed.
Mary Grace (not her real name), one of the students that were allegedly possessed, told Superbalita Cebu that before the incident, she felt a strange feeling in her body while trying to sleep at their campsite.
Mary Grace was told by her teachers to drink some medicine but she suddenly collapsed and started roll around the floor.
Her voice also changed as though she was a different person, Jay said.
Aside from Mary Grace, four other students also showed the same symptoms as her.
Jay said despite their efforts to calm them down, they failed to control the five students who kept on struggling.
Fearing that more possessions could occur, Jay and his fellow teachers decided to bring the five students and the barangay tanod to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Barangay Punta Princesa for help.
As they were brought to the church, the six persons would continue to struggle and scream whenever a lay worker of the church would douse them with holy water and a cross on their chest, as though they are in pain.
It was only when Fr. Randy Figuracion, the parish priest of the church, started the deliverance prayer when the six began to calm down.
Figuracion said he and fellow ministers of the church started praying over the allegedly possessed persons to help them recover.
“Akong na feel nga nisalig ra gyud ko sa Ginuo kay gamhanan ang Ginuo kay sa mga nayawaan,” Figuracion said.
He admitted it was not the first time he encountered such an incident.
He advised the teachers of the private college to ask a priest to bless their students whenever he is there to hold a first Friday Mass. (FROM BBT OF SUPERBALITA CEBU/JKV)