9 female inmates feared possessed in Cebu jail

Tension gripped the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center Monday evening after at least nine female inmates started shouting and acting as if possessed.

Fr. Rogelio Bag-ao, accompanied by men carrying a crucifix, tended to the affected inmates and blessed them with holy water, GMA Cebu's Alan Domingo reported Tuesday.

One of the supposedly possessed inmates showed great strength, with six men having difficulty holding her down.

"First time pa itong ma-witness namin ang mga ganito," Bag-ao said.

After the priest prayed for the inmate, eight more were heard shouting from their cells. The eight were brought from their cells to the chapel.

Bag-ao then led the blessing of the cells in the female dormitory.

One of the inmates who was believed possessed described the experience.

"Uminit lang ang aking katawan, bigla uminit. Pagkatapos parang ang aking katawan uminit pero bandang batok malamig na," she said.

But Bag-ao said there may have been other explanations for the female inmates' behavior other than being possessed - such as depression or fatigue.

"Kailangan talagang magdasal, lalo na sila rito sa loob, susceptible dahil marami silng problema. Madali talaga silang himukin ng demonyo," he said.