Police are "intensifying" their probe into Thomas Markle, father of Duchess Meghan, after uncovering suspected child sexual-abuse materials on devices taken from his former home in the Philippines.
Police said they had uncovered suspected child sexual abuse and exploitation content on three SD cards and a mobile phone, devices which were removed from the Cebu City property last month, in an update shared to Facebook on Nov. 4.
Police had to secure a warrant to examine the devices in what they are calling the "Markle Case." Markle, 82, has denied the allegations against him, calling the claims "sick lies."
Investigators stress that their findings "do not yet establish who
owned, produced, or distributed the materials, nor conclusively determine where they originated." An examination of further evidence is ongoing, police said.
Police say they are also probing "the circumstances surrounding the possession and discovery of the materials, the activities of the individuals connected to the case during their stay in the Philippines, and the possible involvement of other persons who may have relevant information."
On Oct. 22, The Sun first reported that Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Jr., found the alleged child sex-abuse images and videos inside four storage boxes at the property. Markle Sr. allegedly left the boxes behind when he returned to his home country and is now reportedly living in Florida where he is receiving medical treatment.
In a statement shared last month, Meghan said she was "deeply distressed" by the "sickening" allegations against her father and said that she had known about the claims since 2019. She expressed hope that people would finally understand why she severed ties with her father and chose not to allow him to meet her two children with Prince Harry: Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.
"My choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them," the duchess said on Oct. 23.
Police say they are liaising with other national units including the national Bureau of Immigration and the Anti-Money Laundering Council. Authorities are also working with the FBI, the statement said.
"We must protect the privacy and dignity of any child who may have been victimized," police said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suspected child abuse material found at Thomas Markle's former home, police say
