Philippine police secure warrant to examine Thomas Markle’s electronic devices

Mr Markle Sr has strongly denied the accusations of possessing child sex abuse images, claiming they had been fabricated and describing them as “sick lies.”

Officers in Cebu required judicial approval before they were permitted to begin analysing the seized devices, which are now being scrutinised by specialist investigators from the region’s dedicated cybercrime unit, it is understood.

Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Markle Jr, 60, told The Sun that he personally delivered four large boxes containing his father’s belongings to Philippine police last week.

Alongside the handover, he reportedly gave a sworn statement in which he affirmed the truthfulness of his account, having been cautioned that providing false information could result in imprisonment.

According to the Sun, Mr Markle Jr subsequently returned to appear before prosecutors in Cebu City, where he submitted a supplementary affidavit formally granting permission for cybercrime specialists to examine the collection of devices and media.

The devices were said to have been handed over voluntarily by the younger Markle, a window fitter by trade who had been serving as his father’s full-time carer since relocating to Mexico following Mr Markle Sr’s stroke in 2022.

The belongings now under examination have reportedly been catalogued across 80 separate categories on a police inventory list and are being processed by Cebu’s Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 7.

According to the Sun, preliminary data analysis indicated that the alleged material was downloaded during 2014 and 2020, well before Mr Markle Sr and his son moved to the Philippines in January of last year.

Philippine National Police spokesman Colonel Allen Rae Co confirmed the digital forensic work was under way, telling The Sun: “We have to establish the file and its nature, the origin of the files as well as ownership of these materials.

“If there will be evidence found of any wrongdoing, we will have to establish possession during the relevant timeline, as well as the identities of the victims if there are any.

“We are very saddened by this, and we will not let anybody, whether foreign national or Filipino national, do this to our children.”

It comes after the Metropolitan Police voluntarily referred itself to the police watchdog because it failed to pass on a letter detailing allegations against the Duchess of Sussex’s father to relevant overseas law enforcement agencies.

Following a review, a voluntary referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct “in respect of the decision not to inform other law enforcement agencies, and the decision to pass the letter to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex”, the Met said.

Thomas Markle Sr. has previously strongly denied all allegations made against him in an interview with the Daily Mail, claiming they have been fabricated: “I’m shocked, I’m hurt, and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me.

“I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of. This is bull****. It’s just a bunch of lies. It’s sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies.”

No criminal charges have been filed against Thomas Markle Sr., and all claims remain unverified allegations subject to ongoing review by law enforcement.