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Students
in 3 barrios possessed, exorcized?
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Are
"Exorcism" and "spiritual possession"
only seen in the movies? Can it be real these days?
Who
would have thought what Mons. Medroso of the Tagbilaran
diocese described as "phenomenon" would occur
in this high-tech information age?
These
mind-boggling questions relative to "phenomenon"
have stirred the peace-loving residents of barangay
Hanopol, Balilihan; Bayawahan, Sevilla; and Anoling,
Candijay. Many believe the students were "possessed."
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EXAMINING THE 'PHENOMENON.' City
DepEd chief Epidio Jala (extreme right) talks to the victims
following seizure, believed to be spiritual possession.
The church, seeking delicate examination on the case,
declared it a phenomenon. Lower photo shows portion of
the school campus where the tree (at right, with
cross) stands. Observers said possessive unseen dwellers
live there. Foto DANNY REYES |
Bishop
Medroso, in an interview with the DyRD last week, said that
the Catholic Church would not jump to conclusion on what really
happened to the "possessed." He practically stressed
that the "phenomenon" should be examined. The Church
has been very careful on this case or any other religious
specter.
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The
latest to occur was in Anoling High School, Anoling,
Candijay town last week. Seventeen students have manifested
"spiritual possession," source said.
Several
high school students of barangay Bayawahan, Sevilla
town also experienced the same "phenomenon,"
said Sevilla information officer Walter Pondoc during
the meeting of the Association of United Development
Information Officers (AUDIO) recently. The "phenomenon"
is blamed on the so-called unseen tree dwellers.
The
same occurred to students of Hanopol High School, Balilihan
town sometime late last year, taking into account a
big acacia tree.
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This
writer tried to contact barangay captain Sancho Cagampang
of Anoling for comment but failed.
Lately,
the "manifestations" have subsided, said the source
who declined to be named.
Manifestations
include uttering of words that can hardly be understood. Calming
down the victims by putting rosary around the neck aggravates
the seizure. And the "possessed" resisted and fight
back, said Pondoc.
Even
police officers and military men stationed in barangay Bayawahan,
including Pondoc, tried hold back the victims but there were
strong resistance. No way to pacify the victim, he said.
Candijay
source said that Rev. Fr. Rey Omamalin also tried to help
the victims.
However,
manifestations persisted (Ric Obedencio, w/ reports from Danny
Reyes)
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