Philippines DOJ Probes 80-Year-Old Thomas Markle Over Child Abuse Materials
The Duchess of Sussex revealed in a statement that she received a warning letter from U.K. police in 2018, years before the current inquiry began.
By Yuki Melnyk ·
Eighty-year-old Thomas Markle Sr. is the subject of a formal probe by the Philippine Department of Justice regarding alleged child sexual abuse materials found in his home. State media confirmed on Friday that the investigation is active.
The timeline of the case stretches back to 2018. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stated in a statement sent to CBS News on Friday that she was aware of troubling allegations against her father during that year. She explained that a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit. That document was subsequently shared with her. The Duchess said the letter contained disturbing claims and she was assured an investigation was underway.
The Metropolitan Police has not investigated Thomas Markle and is not currently doing so. A spokesperson for the force acknowledged that officers helped pass on the letter in 2018. The police are conducting internal enquiries to confirm those details.
The current probe follows reports that Thomas Markle Jr. notified Philippine authorities about the files. He allegedly discovered the materials in storage boxes at the family home in Cebu province while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and blood clot. Markle Jr. said he first saw the content after switching on an old cell phone at the residence.
According to the Daily Mail, Thomas Jr. reported the discovery to an FBI hotline, the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, and state police in Pennsylvania in July. He told the outlet that he has never downloaded such material and dismissed the claims as sick lies.
Meghan addressed her estrangement from her father in the same statement. She said she distanced herself to protect her children. She stated that her choice to limit contact was for one reason: to protect them. She expressed hope that justice would be fully served and that the safety of innocent children remains the priority.
A Filipino justice official told the state-run Philippine News Agency that the department's anti-trafficking task force is handling the matter. The agency identified Markle Sr. as the specific subject of the inquiry.
Source: CBS News
