Filipino police are reportedly close to bringing formal charges against Thomas Markle, the father of the Duchess of Sussex, after child abuse images were allegedly found on digital devices at his apartment. Detectives in the city of Cebu stated they discovered "explicit content," including footage of "male and female minors," on items seized from Markle's residence.
Authorities obtained a warrant on Thursday to search four storage boxes containing nine mobile phones, three SD cards, five hard drives, a camera, and another non-digital item. Major General Wilson Asueta of the Philippine National Police confirmed that "files consisting of CSEAM [Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material]" were found and would undergo further analysis. He noted that while the children in the videos did not appear to be from the Philippines, they looked "Asian [or] Caucasian."
According to The Sun, police are "very close" to filing charges against Markle, who is 82. The evidence cache was reportedly handed to police 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 he believes shows his father with an underage girl.
Markle has denied the allegations, admitting to paying for sex in the Philippines but only with adults. He has called the accusations "sick lies" and suggested he was "set up." Markle, who moved from Mexico to the Philippines last year, was reportedly moved into a dementia care home in Florida on Friday. Experts suggest that extradition may be unlikely for someone with advanced dementia.
Mexican authorities have also confirmed raiding a storage unit previously rented by Markle in Rosarito after indecent images of children were found there. The FBI is also believed to be investigating, following Scotland Yard's referral of a letter containing allegations from Markle's late ex-wife, Roslyn Loveless, sent in January 2019. The letter reportedly stated that Markle moved to Asia because "12-year-olds are legal there." Scotland Yard has referred itself to the independent police watchdog for its failure to act on the letter, despite sharing it with Meghan and Prince Harry.
The police have reportedly advised Meghan not to speak publicly about the claims. She previously stated she was "deeply distressed" by the allegations.