DUMAGUETE CITY – The parish priest in Barangay Tayawan, Bayawan City in Negros Oriental on Tuesday refuted claims of the presence of an “aswang” — a mythical, evil creature — in the remote, hinterland village.
Fr. Christian Durango cautioned the people against spreading false and unverified information after reports on national television on Sunday night about an “aswang” that attacks villagers, supposedly as a shapeshifter that transforms into a witch or a ghoul, among others.
This, he said, could only endanger the lives of some people and at the same time destroy the image of the village.
“That (story) does not have any factual basis whatsoever,” said Durango, who has been the parish priest of Tayawan since November 2017.
According to him, since he arrived there, rumors have been circulating about the alleged “aswang”, which some people believe “because we entertain ourselves with these kinds of talk.”
“When we say something, let us first verify if it is true. We are already, in a way, defaming someone” and causing social stigma, he said.
Those associated with the supposed “aswang” are even regular churchgoers, he added.
Durango said relatives of the persons being alluded to as “aswang” even relocated out of fear and shame as a result of the rumors and reports that also went viral on social media.
He lamented further that these reports have divided his parishioners.
“Those who have been interviewed are now being bashed by the people there,” the priest said.
He added that there are more important and pressing concerns that should be addressed and reported by the media, not the “aswang” issue that is detrimental to the community.
“If we cannot verify it’s truthfulness then it’s better not say it in public,” he said. (Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA)
