Meghan Markle Confirms 2018 Warning as Philippines Probes Father

The investigation into Thomas Markle Jr.'s father has moved from private family disputes to official state action in the Philippines. On Friday, Philippine state media confirmed that the Department of Justice is actively looking into the matter. The probe centers on allegations that an octogenarian American national left videos and photos of child abuse in his home in Cebu province. A Filipino justice official told the Philippine News Agency that the department's anti-trafficking task force is handling the case.

The timing of the discovery provides context for the current inquiry. According to The Daily Mail, Thomas Jr. found the materials while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and blood clot. He reportedly first saw the content after turning on an old cell phone at the family home. The son stated he reported the findings to an FBI hotline, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Pennsylvania state police in July.

Thomas Markle Sr. denied the allegations in a report published by The Daily Mail on Friday. He stated, "I have never downloaded anything like that in my life," and called the claims "sick lies." The British tabloid The Sun reported earlier this week that Thomas Jr. was the one who formally reported his father to Philippine authorities.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, addressed the situation in a statement sent to CBS News on Friday. She described herself as "deeply distressed" by the reports. The duchess said she had known of the allegations since 2018 and that they were passed to U.K. authorities at that time. She noted that a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and the Royalty and Specialist Protection command, which was later shared with her. The letter contained what she called "troubling and disturbing allegations" against her father.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the force was aware of media reports that its officers helped pass on the letter in 2018. The spokesperson said the Met is undertaking internal enquiries to confirm the details. It is understood that the Metropolitan Police has not investigated Thomas Markle and is not currently doing so.

The duchess also addressed her estrangement from her father in the statement. She said she distanced herself from him to protect her children. "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. She added that her "sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children."