Philippine Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla says a forensic investigation into Thomas Markle Sr, father of the Duchess of Sussex, will be complete within a week. He said all signs point to a possible sex offender of the grossest kind, and the findings will be released once analysed. Remulla said national police found a trove of child pornography materials and a laptop at Markle's former home in Cebu. Markle Sr denies possessing such material but has admitted paying for sex in the country. The Metropolitan Police confirmed it passed a letter with allegations to the couple in 2019.
Thomas Markle Sr, father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has admitted paying for sex in the Philippines but denies allegations he held child sex abuse images. His half-son, Thomas Markle Jr, reportedly told Philippine police he found such material among family belongings at their father's former home there. Authorities in the Philippines say they are investigating. Thomas Markle Sr says he has never had sex with anyone under 18 and would welcome a forensic examination of his computer.
London's Metropolitan Police has confirmed it received a letter in January 2019 containing a number of claims about Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle. The force said the letter concerned alleged offending outside the United Kingdom, and it was not shared with other law enforcement agencies. A spokesperson said the force is reviewing how it handled the matter. The claims follow reports that child sexual abuse material was found at Mr Markle's former home in the Philippines, which he has denied as "sick lies". Authorities in the Philippines are investigating the allegations.
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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, says she was told in 2018 of disturbing allegations against her estranged father. She said this was why she kept her children away from him. Thomas Markle denies possessing child sexual abuse material, calling the accusations sick lies. His son, Thomas Markle Jr, says he found such images at their father's former home in the Philippines and reported them to police there and to the FBI in the US. Meghan said she hoped justice would be fully served.
A 14-year-old gunman killed two students and himself at a school in Banga, in the southern Philippines, in September. The shooter had posted a manifesto saying he was a member of an online group called the True Crime Community, and police are investigating the link. Officials are also examining a wave of school attacks across the country and in South-East Asia. Authorities have foiled more than 50 planned school shootings and arrested 53 people allegedly involved in online threats and grooming. Parents and schools have been urged to monitor children's online activity.
