Weddings are some of the most joyous affairs to attend, whether you’re part of the entourage or not. However, for this wedding videographer, the ceremony he was covering turned into an unforgettable, albeit unfortunate, experience after seeing the groom killing a snake.

The snake mishap

Wedding photographer Ben Jahan took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent his frustration at a wedding event he recently attended. Jahan said the groom caught a snake at the wedding reception (which was outdoors) and smashed its head.

“And the bride clapped and probably thought it made him look good and manly like p*t*a***na n’yo manigas kayo — walang video video — p*a*y* kayo,” his post reads.

He also shared a screenshot in which he was asked about copies of the wedding video. In response, he just said: “Ask mo ‘yung ahas.”

However, many felt his actions were unprofessional

With the first tweet garnering over three million views, it’s clear Jahan’s posts have gone viral across X. Although some praised him for sticking to his principles over money, others called him disrespectful for his actions. 

“I understand we all have something where we draw the line. Maybe for you, it’s animal abuse. Pero, just remember, making a stand does have its consequences. You probably broke a contractual obligation, as well as giving yourself [a] bad PR for this,” one user said.

Another user argued that when someone pays for a product or service, there exists a moral obligation to deliver what they have paid for; otherwise, it could be considered tantamount to theft.

“The snake is another issue that does not involve your non-compliance to what is owed/due,” the user added. 

Some also said it’s common for people to exhibit a fight or flight behavior when confronted by situations like random snake encounters. 

“Alam mo naman siguro ito, ano? Response varies from person to person, so maaaring yan yung response ni Kuya. Si OA ka naman,” said another.

What does the law say about killing wildlife animals?

Under Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, it’s considered illegal to kill, injure, collect, hunt, or have possession of wildlife, their by-products, and derivatives. Anyone who is found guilty may go to prison, be fined, or both.

However, the law also states people are exempted from the consequences of killing and destroying wildlife species, given the following instances:

• (i) when it is done as part of the religious rituals of established tribal groups or indigenous cultural communities;
• (ii) when the wildlife is afflicted with an incurable communicable disease;
• (iii) when it is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery suffered by the wildlife;
• (iv) when it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life or limb of a human being; and
• (v) when the wildlife is killed or destroyed after it has been used in authorized research or experiments.

Ben Jahan remains firm about what he did

Despite the backlash and callouts, Jahan isn’t backing down from his actions, standing firm by his belief that the groom’s act of killing a snake is wrong. 

“I stand by my actions. OA na kung OA, pero if I couldn’t do anything to stop that unnecessary cruelty, I have no business glorifying what these people are celebrating either.”

He argued the wedding was held at a location full of trees and shrubs, and the wedding party was invading the snake’s natural space. 

“That snake was just probably nabulabog and wanted to get away,” he argued. “But no, they just had to kill it.”

Jahan added he doesn’t expect everyone to be on his side and he’s at peace with what he did. 

“I wish the couple nothing but the wrath of the engkantos that they angered by their dumb actions. Like legit.”

What are your thoughts on the groom killing a snake and the videographer’s reaction? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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