One of the two men in a video that went viral on social media has apologized for removing the tarsiers they found but stands by their decision to move the tarsiers to another area.

The incident happened in Barangay Maligo, South Cotabato. 

Ryan Parreño said he and his cousin were cutting tall grass at their farm when they found the tarsiers. He said they almost hit the tarsiers with their bolo so they decided to remove them from the plants the tarsiers were clinging to and transfer them to another area. 

He said they were able to transfer the tarsiers in less than 30 minutes. 

“Hapit namo sila mahagbasan, hapit sila maigo sa sundang. Ana ko nga ‘mig, kuhaon na lang nato na, i-transfer nato sa ubang area.’ Mao to gikuha namo siya, wala kaabot og half hour, na-transfer na siya,” Parreño said.

Listed as a near-threatened species, tarsiers are known to be stressed easily when they are held, which is why in the Loboc Tarsier Conservation Area in Bohol, for example, visitors are not allowed to touch the tarsiers. 

The video posted on the 'Farm Boy' Facebook page, which has since been removed, showed the two men seemingly playing with the tarsiers as they show followers what they have found.

"Smile baby, smile," one of them could be heard as he zooms the lens close to a tarsier. 

This drew backlash online. 

Parreño apologized but he said he stands by their decision to bring the tarsiers to another location. He said they had to clear the area where they found the tarsiers.

“Mangayo lang ko og pasaylo sa mga ga-bash. Kung para sa inyoha nga mali akong gibuhat pero para sa akoa, tama akong gibuhat kay ngano man kung gipasagdaan lang nako sila didto, gilimpyohan nako ang area nila didto, wala na sila’y mapuy-an man gud,” he said.

PROBE

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Soccsksargen (DENR-12) told GMA Regional TV One Mindanao that the tarsiers have since been released back into the wild.

The agency has launched an investigation into the incident. 

“The Department already investigated the matter and found out that the two tarsiers were already released to the wild, yet the agency is still looking for further actions to be taken on the wildlife incident,” DENR-12 said.