Authorities in the Philippines are sharing new details about the investigation of Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr.
Police handling the investigation confirmed to the New York Post on Tuesday, November 3, that Thomas Sr.’s child pornography cache contained a video of children engaging in sex acts.
Authorities claimed there were boys and girls in the clip, and it showed minors performing “sexual activities.” The video also allegedly featured Asian and Caucasian minors but no Filipinos, authorities said. (It’s unclear if Thomas Sr. was in any video.)
According to Pmgen Wilson Casueta, who is the acting director of the Philippine National Police, the investigation into Thomas Sr., 82, is “going in the right direction.”
“If there is sufficient evidence and the evidence warrants, we will file a case,” Casueta told the publication. (Thomas Sr. has yet to be charged with a crime and has denied any wrongdoing.)
Filipino police also claimed the “FBI and U.S. authorities are doing their own investigations” while partnering up with law enforcement teams in the Southeast Asian nation.
“Only the FBI and U.S. authorities have reached [out] to our Women’s and Children’s Protection Center,” Casueta claimed.
Filipino authorities were unable to comment on a report from October that Mexican authorities allegedly found child porn in a Mexican storage unit Thomas Sr. rented near his former home in Rosarito Beach, Mexico.
News broke on October 22 that an investigation was launched after Thomas Markle Jr. turned over child sex abuse material (CASM) that he allegedly found in boxes at his father’s house in the Philippines.
Thomas Sr. later denied any accusations that he was in possession of images depicting child sex abuse.
“I’m shocked, I’m hurt, and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me,” Thomas Sr. said in a statement to the Daily Mail on October 23. “I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of. This is bulls***. It’s just a bunch of lies. It’s sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies.”
Meghan, 45, also issued a statement of her own addressing her decision to distance herself from her father years ago.
“I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” the Duchess of Sussex said in a statement to Us on October 23. “In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me. It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father, and I was given assurances that these were being investigated.”
Meghan explained that she wanted to “protect” her own children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, whom she shares with her husband, Prince Harry.
“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children was for one reason: to protect them,” she explained. “I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families. Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
