Philippine Justice Department Investigates 80-Year-Old Man Over Stored Child Abuse Files
Meghan Markle says she learned of the allegations in 2018 and that her distance from her father was intended to shield their children.
By Marta Price ·
Thomas Markle, an 80-year-old American man, is the subject of a formal investigation by the Philippine Department of Justice.
The probe concerns allegations that Markle left child sexual abuse materials at his residence in Cebu province. Philippine state media confirmed the inquiry on Friday, identifying Markle as the individual under review by the department’s anti-trafficking task force.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, responded to the news in a statement sent to CBS News. She described herself as deeply distressed by the reports. The duchess stated that she has been aware of allegations against her father since 2018. According to her account, a letter containing these claims was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit that year. She said she was later shown the letter and received assurances that the matter was being examined.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the force is conducting internal enquiries to verify its role in handling that 2018 letter. The spokesperson noted that while officers from the relevant command helped pass on the document, the Met has not investigated Thomas Markle and is not currently doing so.
The initial reports of the investigation were triggered by Thomas Markle Jr., the subject’s son, who reported his father to Philippine authorities. The Daily Mail reported that Thomas Jr. discovered the materials in storage boxes at the family home while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and blood clot. The report states he first noticed the files after turning on an old mobile phone. Thomas Jr. allegedly contacted the FBI hotline, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Pennsylvania state police in July.
Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the accusations. The Daily Mail quoted him as saying he has never downloaded such materials and dismissed the claims as sick lies. Meghan Markle addressed her limited contact with her father in her statement, explaining that her decision to distance herself was made to protect their children. She expressed hope that the investigation prioritizes the safety of innocent children and that justice is served.
The Philippine News Agency, a state-run outlet, detailed the scope of the inquiry in a Facebook post. The post specified that the Department of Justice is examining reports involving an octogenarian American national who allegedly stored videos and photos of child abuse at his home in Cebu province. The agency confirmed that the anti-trafficking task force is leading the effort.
Source: CBS News
