Authorities in the Philippines are investigating Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, after his son reported discovering digital images allegedly depicting child sexual abuse in Cebu. The 82-year-old denies the accusations as sick lies, while British police face internal review over handling a 2019 letter.
Cebu Authorities and the FBI Investigate Stored Digital Evidence
Philippine law enforcement officials confirmed an active investigation into Thomas Markle Sr. following a report filed by his son, Thomas Markle Jr. The probe centers on digital equipment and storage media allegedly discovered in boxes left behind at a former residence in Cebu City. Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty stated that the Anti-Trafficking and Anti-OSAEC task force in Cebu is leading the inquiry into the materials.
Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla reported that authorities recovered a laptop and related digital files from the property. In parallel, the National Bureau of Investigation received a letter from the FBI office in Manila after Markle Jr. contacted U.S. federal authorities. Interior Minister Remulla described the ongoing forensic examination, noting that the investigation must account for family disputes while reviewing the technical data.
In these cases where family disputes are mixed up, we have to consider all the angles. Right now all signs point to a possible sex offender of the grossest kind. We want to be sure before we release the findings. The forensics data will be complete in a week.
Jonvic Remulla, Philippine interior minister
Thomas Markle Sr. Denies Accusations and Citing Family Conflict
Speaking from the United States, where he relocated earlier this year, Thomas Markle Sr. strongly rejected the allegations. During an interview with the Daily Mail, he maintained his innocence and questioned his son’s motives, stating that he had not possessed the computers in question since leaving Mexico in 2025.
The 82-year-old acknowledged traveling to the Philippines in the past and paying for sex while single, but asserted that he never engaged with anyone under the age of 18. He expressed shock at the accusations brought by his son, characterizing them as an attempt to damage his reputation. His son Thomas Jr., aged 60, stated that he felt horrified upon finding the material and had no choice except to notify authorities.
Meghan Markle's father Thomas is at the centre of a child sex images found at his home in Philippines after being reported to police by his own son.Thomas Markle jr is being investigated over a hoard of sickening images that are said to have been found at his Philippines home.… pic.twitter.com/dURQ0qu4n5
National Bureau of Investigation director Melvin Matibag noted that the FBI sought assistance from the agency, transmitting a letter detailing the alleged discovery of explicit materials depicting minors. The National Police of the Philippines inspected the residence in Cebu and found a laptop alongside a trove of child pornography materials stored across four large boxes.
Metropolitan Police Review 2019 Letter Handling as Meghan Markle Responds
The force is considering whether a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct is necessary.
The Duchess of Sussex issued a statement expressing deep distress over the newly surfaced developments. She clarified that her longstanding estrangement from her father was maintained to protect her children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. Reflecting on the information shared by British police in 2019, she noted that she had trusted authorities to investigate the matter while keeping her distance from her father.
A spokesperson for the duchess later explained that while she initially believed she learned of the claims in 2018, she may have been mistaken by a few months due to the absence of a contemporaneous diary record. Prince Harry and Meghan married at Windsor Castle in May 2018 before stepping back from royal duties in 2020 to move to California. Sources close to the couple indicated that because the matter was part of an active police issue, Meghan was legally advised against speaking out publicly to avoid interfering with any potential future investigation.
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More on Thomas Markle
🚨 MEGHAN’S DAD IN CHILD SEX PROBEThomas Markle Snr, 82, is under investigation by Philippine police and the FBI over an alleged huge stash of child sex abuse images. The report came from his own son, Thomas Markle Jr.Thomas Jr says he found “hundreds, if not thousands” of… pic.twitter.com/aE4IPBB2tS
@grok debunk or verify is their a police report or this a news story with no actual evidence
@grok is this true?
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