Philippine DOJ Investigation: Markle Files

The Philippine Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Thomas Markle Sr., an 80-year-old American national. State media confirmed on Friday that the inquiry centers on reports of child abuse videos and photos found in his home in Cebu province.

A Filipino justice official told the state-run Philippine News Agency that the department's anti-trafficking task force is handling the case. The official confirmed that Markle is the specific subject of the ongoing review.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, released a statement to CBS News on Friday describing her reaction to the news as "deeply distressed." She stated that she first learned of the allegations against her father in 2018. According to her statement, a letter detailing "troubling and disturbing" claims was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection at that time.

The duchess said she was given assurances that the 2018 report was under investigation. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson noted that the force is conducting internal enquiries to confirm that officers from its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command helped pass on a letter in 2018. The police said they are aware of media reports regarding the incident.

The Sun reported on Thursday that Thomas Markle Jr. alerted Philippine authorities to the files. The Daily Mail reported on Friday that the younger Markle discovered the materials in storage boxes while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and blood clot. He reportedly viewed some of the content after turning on an old cell phone at the family home.

Markle Jr. is said to have reported the findings in July to an FBI hotline, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Pennsylvania state police. In a separate report, the Daily Mail quoted Markle Sr. as denying the accusations, with the older man calling the claims "sick lies" and stating he had never downloaded such material.

In her statement, Meghan Markle addressed the distance between herself and her father. She said she chose to limit contact to protect her children. She expressed her hope that justice would be served and that the priority would remain the safety of innocent children.