Philippine authorities are investigating Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after suspected child sexual abuse material and a laptop were reportedly found at his former home in Cebu.
Police are examining the digital evidence and coordinating with international law enforcement agencies as the investigation continues.
Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the Philippine National Police (PNP) had inspected the property following a report from Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr. The authorities expect to obtain the results of the laptop’s forensic examination within approximately one week.
“The laptop is currently going under forensic investigation and we will have the full results in one week,” Remulla told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in a statement reported by Philstar.
Remulla also said the government could pursue legal action if investigators found sufficient evidence to support charges.
“The PNP will coordinate with their counterparts to locate and take appropriate legal actions against Mr. Markle if found that there is sufficient evidence to charge him,” he said.
Markle, who reportedly returned to the United States earlier this year after living in Cebu, has denied the allegations. No criminal findings against him have been established.
Philippine Police Seek International Cooperation
PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police were coordinating with overseas law enforcement agencies, including authorities in the United Kingdom and the United States, given the potential cross-border nature of the case.
“The safety of our children remains a priority,” Nartatez said, stressing the importance of cooperation in investigations involving suspected child exploitation.
He added that investigators would examine the available evidence before determining whether criminal charges were warranted. The police have also stated that the appropriate legal authorisation must be obtained before data from digital devices can be examined.
In comments reported by The Guardian and cited by PEOPLE, Remulla said investigators needed to consider the circumstances surrounding the allegations, including the family dispute.
“In these cases where family disputes are mixed up, we have to consider all the angles,” he said.
Remulla described Markle as a “possible sex offender of the grossest kind”, but emphasised that the investigation was ongoing and that authorities needed to verify the evidence before reaching a conclusion.
“Please give us a week to determine the contents and to come up with a definitive picture. We will release a statement then,” he added.
The allegations reportedly emerged after Thomas Markle Jr. discovered boxes containing suspected child sexual abuse images among his father’s belongings. He said he had reported the materials to authorities and expressed confidence that the evidence would clarify the case.
Thomas Markle Sr. rejected the accusations in comments to the Daily Mail, calling them “just a bunch of lies” and saying he did not understand why his son was making the allegations.
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Meghan Markle Responds to Allegations Against Her Father
Meghan Markle said she was “deeply distressed” by the reports and expressed concern for any children who might have been harmed.
In a statement issued on 23 October, she said she had previously been made aware of allegations concerning her father. She also explained that her decision to keep him away from her children was intended to protect them.
“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father, and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” she said, referring to a letter sent to London’s Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that it had received a letter containing allegations of offending outside the United Kingdom in January 2019. The force said the information was passed to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s office but was not shared with other law enforcement agencies.
