MANILA, Philippines — A formal complaint was filed against two vloggers for the maltreatment of Philippine Tarsiers in Polomolok, South Cotabato, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Thursday.
According to DENR – Region 12 (Soccsksargen), a formal complaint was filed against vloggers Ryan Parreño and Sammy Estrebilla Thursday afternoon.
The complaint was for violation of Section 27, paragraphs (f), and (h) of Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Act of 2001 in relation to Section 20, paragraphs (a), and (b) of RA 7586, as amended by RA 11038 known as Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act of 2018.
“Our evaluation disclosed that a crime has been committed under the stated provisions of RA 9147,” said DENR Regional Executive Director Felix Alicer.
“The filing of the case against the violators is an action taken so that the citizens would not imitate the disturbing same acts,” he added.
Alicer appealed to the public to help the DENR in preserving the wildlife species, as well as the environment, in the country.
The DENR previously identified the two individuals as the content creators behind “Farm Boys.”
In their now-viral video, the vloggers were seen holding tarsiers while laughing.
The department said it has already confirmed that the two tarsiers in the video have already been released back into the wild upon investigation.