WARNING: CONTAINS MENTIONS OF DEMONIC POSSESSION

A 14-year-old high school student in Dumangas town, Province of Iloilo is among eight students who were reported to have experienced alleged "demonic possession." 

Alias “Say,” the student, said she hopes she would not go through the same experience again.

The incident was reported to have happened at a school in Dumangas.

Alias “Say,” a Grade 9 student, said that she was among eight students who felt very sick afternoon of July 4, 2025.

The incident caused panic after one of the students reported of the presence of a bloodied elderly in the building.

Alias “Say” said that the last thing she remembered was the panic among fellow students.

“Umiiyak daw ako na nagsasabing ‘ayoko na dito, ayoko na dito. Ilayo nyo ako dito’,” she said.

A security guard on duty witnessed the incident.

“Ang mga bata didiretso, maya-maya pa maghihiwalay at sumisigaw. Hinahawakan ang mga kamay at paa kasi nagwawala sila,” Felix Dimzon, the guard, said.

However, the students behaved normally after and were sent home.

“Sabi ng team na nagresponde, so hindi na namin dinala sa ospital kasi normal ang lahat ng vital signs. Mula sa pulse rate at sa kanilang oxygenation,” Steve Michael Docdocil, assistant head of Dumangas Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said.

After the incident, alias “Say” was taken reportedly by her family to a faith healer who told them that the soul of a female child possessed allegedly the student.

“Pagpasok nya, nawalan siya ng malay. Nagsasalita sya. Hinimok ng nag-healing na lumabas na siya kasi kawawa naman yung bata,” Say's grandmother, Aning, said.

Due to the incident, Say's family decided to transfer her to another school.

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas sought a statement from the school management, but the news team was referred instead to the Department of Education-Iloilo.

The news team is awaiting a statement from Schools Division Superintendent Ernesto Servillon, Jr. and Leonil Salvilla, DepEd Iloilo spokesperson, who are both preoccupied with their respective duties, as of this writing.

According to the Archdiocese of Jaro, untoward incidents may have taken place in that particular school in the past which may have affected the students.

“Siguro maganda na bago magklase, you start the day with prayer dahil yan talaga ang isa sa mga malalaking shield against demons,” advised Fr. Lester Villa, chief exorcist of the Archdiocese of Jaro.

Further, a psychologist said that the affected students must receive appropriate intervention, and that casting aspersions must be avoided.

“Let’s be open about it. Kumbaga i-acknowledge ang kanilang dinaramdam kasi na-experience nila yan. Kung i-explain yan nila sa atin, pakinggan muna natin,” said Venise Buenaflor, a psychologist.