R&B singer Kris Lawrence has spoken about the incident involving Alvin Aragon stealing his cellphone in the past, which the latter openly admitted in a video circulated online.
Earlier this week, netizens shared a Facebook video from September 2024 where Alvin looked back on a difficult chapter of his life marked by repeated acts of stealing. In the video, Alvin spoke about how theft became a pattern for him at the time, recalling how he would take ₱5,000 to ₱10,000 from family members and steal cellphones from neighbors. He said that even when opportunities opened for him in showbiz, the behavior continued, extending to people he worked with in the industry, including Kris.
“Nung napasok ako sa showbiz, aba doon ako nagnanakaw. Nagnanakaw ako ng cellphone din. Si Kris Lawrence, yung singer, ninakawan ko ng cellphone yun sa bahay niya. Meron pang isa eh, co-worker ko sa showbiz. Kinuhanan ko siya ng almost ₱40,000 sa bahay niya,” Alvin said in his video.
Following the renewed circulation of the video, Kris addressed the issue through a Facebook post on February 23, finally sharing his side of the story and confirming that it really happened.
Kris recalled that the incident took place in 2006, when he was out one night with his longtime friend and fellow R&B singer Jay R. The two were drinking at a bar on Tomas Morato where they met a group of people, including Alvin.
“Nagpakilala nga siya na he’s part of StarStruck daw. We were all drinking, kwentuhan...I think he was with two or three other people,” Kris recalled.
As the night went on and the bar was about to close, Kris said they were still short on drinks, prompting him to invite the group to his house. The gathering continued until morning, and after his guests left, Kris noticed that his cellphone was missing.
“When I was going back to my room, I noticed that nawawala yung cellphone ko. Hanap ako nang hanap. Wala ngani.”
Kris said he contacted one of Alvin’s friends to ask if anyone had seen his cellphone, but was told that they did not know where it was and that they had not seen it.
“For me, nakakapagtaka kasi hawak-hawak ko naman [iyon] dun sa studio and apat lang naman kami. Talagang it’s weird,” Kris maintained.
Not long after, Kris said one of Alvin’s friends reached out and admitted what had really happened.
“I think na guilty yung isang friend niya [ni Alvin] and tinawagan niya ako and inamin na si Alvin nga yung kumuha.”
The revelation displeased Kris, especially since the incident happened inside his own home.
“I was like, ‘Dude why would you do that? Why would you steal from me in my own house bro? That’s so disrespectful.’”
Despite his anger, Kris said he chose not to give in to it.
“Nag-sorry siya and honestly my fists were balled up. Gusto ko siyang suntukin pero I know that violence is never the answer.
“I said ‘It’s okay’ [pero] medyo binibigyan ko pa rin siya ng attitude [which is] understandable naman kasi [ninakaw] nga niya yung cellphone ko,” he added.
Kris emphasized that the incident happened two decades ago and is firmly in the past. He also pointed out that Alvin is now in a better place in life.
“I know he’s in a better place now. I know he’s Christian and alam ko naman mabait si Alvin.”
He ended his video on a lighter note, joking that he had already forgotten about the incident until Alvin brought it up again publicly.
“Ikaw kasi Alvin eh. Kinalimutan ko na yun pinaalala mo pa,” he said, laughing.
“Oo nga, naibalik mo ba?” he ended.
In the comments section, netizens asked what phone was stolen. Kris said he could no longer fully remember, but said that it might have been his P90 phone.
Netizens had mixed reactions over the recent revelations, with many saying that at least now they have heard both sides of the story, allowing for a clearer understanding of what happened several years ago.
Meanwhile, Kris recently released his newest song, “Miles Don’t Matter,” which he dedicated to overseas Filipino workers, people in long-distance relationships, and those who are away from their families and loved ones.