An American has been arrested on suspicion of drug dealing in Dumaguete — a little over a year since he was nabbed for the same crime.
James Thomas Hobert was arrested during a police raid on his home in Barangay Taclobo at 8pm on Saturday (June 15).
Among the items seized from his apartment were eight grams of methamphetamine — known locally as shabu — with an estimated value of 54,400 pesos.
As we have previously reported, Hobart was also arrested in April last year in a joint police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency raid on his home.
In that raid, officers said they had seized a sachet of suspected shabu and various drug paraphernalia.
Hobart, who is variously described as hailing from Iowa and Western Florida, denied drug possession, and insisted he had been framed.
Under interview, he said that somebody must have found a way into his house to plant the evidence. He also claimed that his son had lost his house keys, and they could have fallen into the wrong hands.
However, he refused to name the person he suspected of planting the drugs, saying he feared for his life. “Somebody must be in the house and I can’t say who that person is, or else my life will be over,” he told investigating officers.
It has not been confirmed whether the charges against him were dropped, or if he had been granted bail following his first arrest.
According to the Facebook page HEADZ UP NegOr, the following pieces of evidence were seized during Saturday’s Dumaguete drug raid:
- One elongated transparent heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu powder/granules for buy bust and one 500 peso bill as buy bust money
- One elongated transparent heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu powder/granules
- Two medium transparent heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu powder/granules
- One big transparent heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu powder/granules
- 230 pesos in cash
The suspect, aged 50, is now under custody of the Dumaguete Police Station while appropriate charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act are being readied against him.
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