Thomas Markle Jr. named a person of interest in child abuse inquiry

Police in the Philippines have widened an investigation involving Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., to include his son, Thomas Markle Jr. Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said Markle Jr. is a “person of interest,” not a suspect, as officers follow up on claims about underage girls visiting his home. At a press conference in Manila, Remulla said authorities had received information that girls under 18 were brought to Markle Jr.’s home in Cordova. “We have witnesses,” he said, adding that investigators were pursuing the matter. He also said police had asked Markle Jr. about the allegation and that the 60-year-old claimed he was only making TikTok videos. The inquiry is part of a broader investigation into Thomas Markle Sr. and alleged child sexual abuse material. Markle Sr. has denied the allegations and said he was set up, while acknowledging that he paid for sex in the Philippines. His son has said he found storage boxes at his father’s home that he believed contained a large quantity of abusive images, and has called for authorities to search storage units in Los Angeles. According to the report, Markle Jr. was interviewed at his home as part of a multi-agency meeting involving Philippine police and US investigators. The call reportedly included an FBI agent based in Florida, a specialist in child sexual abuse cases, an assistant US attorney and other officials. The report says the investigation is examining whether Markle Sr. possessed illegal images while living in the Philippines and Mexico. The allegations against both men remain matters for investigators. Remulla’s comments distinguish Markle Jr.’s current status as a person of interest from that of a suspect, and no finding of wrongdoing by him is reported. Markle Sr. has reportedly since moved to Florida and was recently placed in a care home for people with dementia.