Filipino police are nearing formal charges against Thomas Markle, the father of the Duchess of Sussex, after child abuse images were reportedly discovered on digital devices at his apartment in Cebu. Major General Wilson Asueta of the Philippine National Police stated that detectives found "explicit content," including videos of "male and female minors" and other explicit materials, within nine mobile phones, three SD cards, five hard drives, and a camera.
Detectives were granted a warrant on Thursday to search the contents of four storage boxes found at the 82-year-old's flat. The investigation is ongoing, with digital forensics analysis and field investigations underway to validate the findings. Asueta noted that the children in the videos did not appear to be from the Philippines but seemed "Asian [or] Caucasian."
According to The Sun, police are "very close" to filing charges. The evidence cache was reportedly provided by Markle's son, Thomas Jr., who lives in the Philippines. He claimed to have found "hundreds, if not thousands" of child abuse pictures and videos, including an image that allegedly depicted his father with an underage girl.
Markle has denied any wrongdoing, admitting to paying for sex with adult prostitutes in the Philippines but denying the abuse allegations, which he called "sick lies" and suggested he was "set up." He moved from Mexico to the Philippines in January of the previous year and later relocated to the U.S. in May after his lower leg was amputated. Reports indicate he was moved into a dementia care home in Florida on Friday.
Separately, Mexican authorities confirmed a raid on a storage unit previously rented by Markle in Rosarito after indecent images of children were discovered there. The FBI is also reportedly investigating after Scotland Yard shared a letter from Markle's late ex-wife, Roslyn Loveless, containing allegations about him that was sent in January 2019. Scotland Yard has referred itself to the independent police watchdog over its handling of the letter. The letter reportedly stated that Markle moved to Asia because "12-year-olds are legal there."
Authorities have reportedly advised Meghan Markle not to comment publicly on the claims. She previously expressed being "deeply distressed" by the allegations.