A video of a child touching an octopus in the seawaters of Boljoon town, southern Cebu Province went viral as netizens warned them that the sea creature is of a venomous species.

The mother identified as Christine Quevedo uploaded a video of her child touching a blue-ringed octopus while the child was frolicking in the waters of El Pardo, Boljoon. 

Quevedo said she is used to uploading videos about nature. However, it is the latest post on the blue-ringed octopus that caught the attention of netizens. 

The video featured her youngest child scooping up a yellow-brown octopus bestrewn with blue rings.

Quevedo said that when she read the comments on the venomous sea creature, she got bothered and extremely worried over the safety of her child.

“May mga nabasa akong comments na buti daw nabuhay pa kami, na malakas daw ang guardian angel namin; kasi sabi ng anak ko 'wala naman ma, wala naman akong naramdaman,'" Quevedo said. 

When the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7 was sought for comment, they are not fully familiar with venomous octopus as they have no conclusive study on the animal. 

It is reported that blue-ringed octopus releases tetrodotoxin, a type of poison when provoked. 

BFAR 7 warned the public from touching colorful sea creatures as these could be defense mechanisms to suppress predators.

“You can only watch them, but do not touch,” Johann Tejada, BFAR 7 technical assistant, said.