Police apologize to Thomas Markle Jr. after public remarks about child abuse probe

Authorities in the Philippines have apologized to Thomas Markle Jr. after publicly identifying him as a person of interest in the child sexual abuse investigation involving his father, Thomas Markle Sr.

The apology came days after Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said Thomas Jr., 60, was being looked into as part of the investigation. Thomas Jr. is the half-brother of the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.

Juanito Victor Remulla previously told reporters there were indications Thomas Markle Jr. might be involved, while stressing he had not been named a suspect.

“There are indications suggesting that the son may also be involved in the crime. But only as a person of interest so far, he is not yet treated as a suspect.”

The interior secretary also cited witness accounts alleging underage girls had been brought to Thomas Jr.'s home in Cordova, Philippines. He said witnesses reported girls being brought to the property through windows, alongside ring lights.

Thomas Markle Jr. reportedly told police he was “merely doing TikTok [videos],” Remulla said.

Thomas Markle Jr. initially alerted authorities to his father, alleging he found child sexual abuse material at the family home.

The police apology was issued on the same day Thomas Markle Sr. was arrested and arraigned in Florida in connection with the investigation.

Thomas Markle Sr.’s arrest: Timeline

On Oct. 25, Remulla discovered graphic materials from Thomas Markle Sr.’s belongings. The Philippine authorities uncovered materials involving children, alongside a laptop, during their search of Meghan Markle’s estranged dad’s residence.

Remulla told The Guardian:

"In these cases where family disputes are mixed up, we have to consider all the angles. Right now, all signs point to a possible sex offender of the grossest kind. We want to be sure before we release the findings. The forensics data will be complete in a week.”

Thomas Jr. was the one who reported his father to the authorities. He told The Sun that he found “hundreds, if not thousands” of alleged child sexual abuse materials in his father’s items.

“His desktop was full of row upon row of thumbnail pictures linking to the most sickening child abuse imaginable. The worst of the worst.”

Thomas Sr., however, denied the accusations and called them “sick lies.”

On Nov. 6, the Duchess’ estranged father was arrested in Florida and made his first court appearance. He did not enter a plea, and the arraignment hearing has not been scheduled yet.

The judge let Thomas Sr. out on his recognizance but required him to be confined to his home under electronic monitoring. He is restricted from leaving the Middle District of Florida and the Central District of California.

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Bill Essayli, an Assistant U.S. Attorney, stated that these allegations are severe.

“Mr. Markle is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, including photographs depicting himself with minor girls. These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr. Markle to the fullest extent of federal law.”

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