Ryan Ripperger, singer of early-2000s American band Stephen Speaks, got his phone stolen in Bacolod City on Saturday.
Ripperger is in the country for a number of shows and lost his phone when he put it down to sign autographs.
Luckily, it was in a place that had CCTV. Security footage from the restaurant he performed in showed that an audio man working on the show took the phone.
The audio man was identified as Randy Sumugat. He laid a bag over the phone while he was fixing audio cables and Ripperger was busy signing autographs.
Sumugat snuck off with the phone before Ripperger was done signing autographs.
Ripperger immediately reported his lost phone to the restaurant owners who quickly reviewed the CCTV footage. The suspect was arrested right after.
The singer said he got worried because he keeps a lot of his latest compositions in his phone, one of which is a song dedicated to the wounded soldiers who fought in Marawi City.
Sumugat returned Ripperger’s phone and apologized. He refused to be interviewed on-cam but claimed that what transpired was “unintentional.”
He said he forgot to notify the authorities and return the phone to its owner hours after his attention was called.
In a text message, concert organizer Joe Louie Baylon said what happened “was an isolated case,” that the singer had a great time in the country, and is looking forward to returning.
Although the band is from the United States, they were very popular in the Philippines during the early aughts. Those who grew up during the time surely know (and probably memorize) their hits Passenger Seat and Out of my League.
with a report from ABS-CBN News
