Cebu police set one-week clock on digital probe of Markle Sr's computer

Cebu police have given themselves seven days to complete a digital forensic examination of the computer seized from the home of Thomas Markle Sr. The deadline was announced as part of a formal investigation into allegations that the 72-year-old possessed child sexual abuse images.

The probe began after Thomas Markle Jr, his 60-year-old half-brother, told local detectives that he found hundreds, if not thousands, of images on devices stored in four large boxes at the family residence in Cebu. Markle Jr also reported the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which stated it would support Philippine authorities and look into potential federal violations of US law.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that national police secured the computer for the analysis. He told reporters that the team expects to have the forensic results within one week. The investigation is being coordinated by a human trafficking and child sexual exploitation taskforce, according to Justice Department Undersecretary Nicholas Ty.

Markle Sr has denied the accusations, calling them sick lies. He spoke from a rehabilitation center in Florida, where he is learning to walk with a prosthetic leg following an amputation caused by a blood clot. He said he was shocked and hurt by the claims, noting that he left the computers in his care when he moved from Rosarito, Mexico, to the Philippines in January 2025 for a fresh start after a stroke.

His estranged daughter, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, issued a statement through a spokesperson on Thursday. She described herself as deeply distressed by the allegations. She revealed that the Metropolitan Police shared a letter with her in 2018 that outlined disturbing claims against her father.

The duchess said the letter was sent to the Met and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, known as Rasp. She stated she was assured the claims were being investigated at the time. Any distance she kept from her father and her decision to limit his contact with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, was intended to protect them. She added that she trusted the authorities were doing the same for other families and hopes justice will be fully served.

Sources indicated that Meghan did not speak publicly in 2018 to avoid jeopardizing a potential future investigation or facing legal action. The Rasp unit is understood to have passed the letter to her shortly after her wedding. The Metropolitan Police has not previously investigated Markle Sr and is not doing so now, though it is conducting internal inquiries to confirm whether Rasp officers were involved in sharing the document.

Markle Sr has been estranged from the duchess since he missed her wedding to Prince Harry on health grounds. He has never met his grandchildren. Samantha Markle, the pair's half-sister, defended their father and accused Markle Jr of making up lies to generate money. She noted that the computers were out of their father's possession for two years, leaving room for tampering.