WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS DETAILS OF GRAPHIC CONTENT.
Philippine authorities have issues a significant update in their investigation into Thomas Markle Sr.’s alleged child pornography possession — days after he was reported to local police and the FBI by his own son, who claimed to have found vile materials in the 82 year old’s home in Cebu City.
“The investigation is going in the right direction,” Pmgen Wilson Casueta, the Acting Director of the Philippine National Police, told reporters Tuesday.
“If there is sufficient evidence, [then] we will file a case.”
Casueta revealed that one video contained male and female children of Asian and Caucasian descent while also keen to stress there were no Filipinos.
The cop also revealed the FBI and other US law enforcement authorities are conducting their own investigations – but they are also in partnership with local officials.
He also appeared to hint that London cops have not been in contact with the Filipino authorities.
“Well, only the FBI and the US authorities have reached with our Women’s and Children’s Protection Center,” he said.
Authorities couldn’t comment on Agence France Presse reports that Mexican authorities had raided a storage unit rented by Markle.
Markle, who lived in Rosarito from 2016 to 2025, reportedly stopped paying rent for the unit in 2024 – but kept his possessions inside.
So-called “magazines from Asia” from 20 years ago and computer equipment was found but authorities didn’t disclose any further details.
As Page Six previously reported, Thomas Markle Jr., allegedly found “hundreds, if not thousands” of child sex abuse images at the Cebu home his dad had previously lived in.
The 60 year old reported his father to the authorities and went public with his disturbing findings, alleging that he had found videos of victims “no older” than 10 or 11 years old involved in “sex acts” and “old books that turned out to be full of naked little girls.”
Thomas Sr., however, vehemently denied the accusations and dubbed his son’s claims “bulls–t.”
“It’s just a bunch of lies. It’s sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies,” he told the Daily Mail.
Thomas Sr.’s daughter, Samantha, 61, half-sister of Meghan Markle, backed her father and accused her brother of seeking “revenge” with his allegations.
However, just days later, another series of shocking allegations were levied against Thomas Sr. by a Daily Mail reporter, who claimed to have uncovered additional “vile” materials in an abandoned storage unit that was rented by the former lighting director in Mexico.
The unit, which is located just three miles from Thomas Sr.’s former home in Rosarito Beach, was found to contain numerous pornographic books and magazines, as well as photos that appear to show underage girls.
The outlet reported that magazines depicting child pornography published in Asia were allegedly uncovered along with random images of children on a beach. The publication noted that it had also reported Thomas Sr. to the FBI.
Hours after that story was published, local authorities were seen raiding the storage unit, however they have yet to share an update about their findings.
Page Six subsequently confirmed officials obtained a warrant in the Philippines to search Thomas’ digital devices.
The Department of Justice’s Office of the Regional Prosecutor VII (Central Visayas, Philippines) told us “appropriate legal action may be pursued” if there is “sufficient evidence to identify any person who may be held liable.”
Jonvic Remulla, the Philippine interior minister, also issued a statement to The Guardian shortly after Thomas Jr.’s claims were made public, suggesting that Thomas Sr. could well be a “sex offender of the grossest kind,” based on the early evidence local authorities had found at his home.
“In these cases where family disputes are mixed up, we have to consider all the angles,” Remulla said. “Right now all signs point to a possible sex offender of the grossest kind. We want to be sure before we release the findings.”
In a statement shared with Page Six following her half-brother’s initial finding, Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by the news of her father.
She also revealed that she had received a letter in 2018 containing similar “troubling and disturbing” allegations against her father, which she said contributed to their estrangement.
Since the news broke, the actress and her husband, Prince Harry, fled the UK with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to an unknown location.
As for Thomas Sr., he was reportedly been moved into a “care home for dementia patients” on Friday amid the investigation.
The 82-year-old was photographed in a wheelchair being pushed by care facility aides in Lakeland, Florida.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
