A Philippine minister has described Meghan Markle’s estranged father as a “possible sex offender of the grossest kind” as authorities investigate alleged child sexual abuse material found at his former home.
Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla made the disturbing assessment after police seized a laptop allegedly belonging to Thomas Markle Sr., 82, and recovered what authorities described as a trove of child pornography materials in Cebu City.
“We want to be sure before we release the findings,” Remulla told The Guardian on Sunday, Oct. 25, adding that investigators expected to complete their forensic analysis within a week.
‘Sick lies’
Markle Sr., who is currently in a rehabilitation centre in Florida, vehemently denies the allegations, calling them “sick lies” in an interview with the Daily Mail .
“I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of,” he said. “This is bulls—.”
The investigation began after Markle Sr.’s son, Thomas Markle Jr., allegedly discovered a stash of child sexual abuse material in boxes at his father’s home. He reported his findings to local authorities and the FBI, The U.S. Sun reported.
The boxes reportedly contained “hundreds, if not thousands” of images, which Markle Jr. took to police headquarters in Cebu City last week.
Although no laptops were included in the original stash, Philippine police later seized a laptop allegedly belonging to Markle Sr., along with what authorities described as “a trove of child pornography materials,” Philstar and Global News reported.
The case has also brought renewed attention to a disturbing claim made years ago by Markle Sr.’s first wife, Roslyn Loveless.
‘Because 12-year-olds are legal there’
According to the U.S. Sun , Loveless wrote to London’s Metropolitan Police in 2019 claiming Markle Sr. had told her he travelled to the Far East “because 12-year-olds are legal there.”
That claim has not been established as fact, and the current investigation remains ongoing.
Meghan, 45, addressed the controversy publicly on Oct. 23, revealing she had known about troubling allegations involving her father for years.
“I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” the Duchess of Sussex said, according to The U.K. Sun .
She said a letter containing allegations against her father was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018, shortly after her May wedding to Prince Harry. The letter was subsequently shared with her, and she said she was assured the allegations were being investigated.
Why Meghan kept her distance from her father
Meghan also challenged years of criticism over her decision to distance herself from her father and keep him away from her children.
“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: To protect them,” she said.
According to the BBC , Markle Sr. previously acknowledged paying for sex during visits to the Philippines but denied having sex with underage girls or possessing child sexual abuse images.