MANILA, Philippines -- A team of experts from the Department of Education has arrived in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro to investigate the alleged incidents of seizures in a public high school in the city, according to a correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.

The team -- composed of psychologist, nutritionist, physician, among others -- arrived in the city southwest of Manila Tuesday afternoon, Madonna Virola of the Inquirer Southern Luzon Bureau told INQUIRER.net.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus sent the team amid reports that 26 high school students at the Pedro Panaligan Memorial National High School had suffered from "seizures."

The victims, mostly girls, have pointed to "evil spirits" apparently incensed by the cutting of a decades-old tree at the school's backyard.

Attempts by a local priest and paranormal healers to drive away the "spirits" had failed.