Philippine Justice Department Opens Probe Into 80-Year-Old American Over Abuse Files

The Philippine Department of Justice launched a formal investigation on Friday into Thomas Markle Sr., an 80-year-old American national, over allegations that he left child sexual abuse materials at his residence in Cebu province. State media confirmed the inquiry is being handled by the department's anti-trafficking task force.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, responded to the news in a statement sent to CBS News, describing herself as "deeply distressed." She revealed that she had been aware of allegations against her father since 2018. According to her account, a letter was sent that year to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, which contained "troubling and disturbing" claims. Meghan said she was subsequently given assurances that those allegations were under investigation.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated that the force is conducting internal enquiries to confirm that its officers helped pass the 2018 letter. The spokesperson noted that the Met is not currently investigating Thomas Markle. This follows reports that the Metropolitan Police had not previously opened a case regarding the specific allegations.

The current probe in the Philippines stems from a report filed by Thomas Markle Jr., the subject's son. The Daily Mail reported on Friday that Markle Jr. found child abuse materials in storage boxes at the family home. He allegedly discovered the files after turning on an old cell phone while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and a blood clot.

Markle Jr. is reported to have contacted the FBI hotline, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Pennsylvania state police in July. The British tabloid The Sun reported on Thursday that he had also reported his father to Philippine authorities. In a separate report, the Daily Mail quoted Markle Sr. as denying the claims, stating, "I have never downloaded anything like that in my life," and calling the accusations "sick lies."

The Duchess used her statement to address the distance between herself and her father. She said that her choice to limit contact between her children and their grandfather was made to protect them. "I hope it can now be understood that.. 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 wrote.

Meghan concluded by expressing her hope that "justice will be fully served" and that the safety of innocent children remains the top priority. The investigation in Cebu is expected to determine whether the materials found in the home meet the legal standards for prosecution under Philippine law.