Meghan Markle’s half-brother named as ‘person of interest’ in Philippines child abuse probe - The Independent

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Thomas Markle Jr, the half-brother of the Duchess of Sussex, has been named as a person of interest in an ongoing investigation into child sex abuse images found among his father Thomas Markle Sr’s belongings.

The development was announced by the Philippines’ interior secretary, Jonvic Remulla, on Thursday.

“There are indications suggesting that the son may also be involved in the crime,” he said, speaking at a press conference in Manila.

“But only as a person of interest so far, he is not yet treated as a suspect. We will know in the next few days.”

According to Remulla, more than 7,000 photos and one video – all of under-age males and females of Asian, Latin and European descent, with some as young as 10 and 11 – were uncovered.

He described the images as “the most deplorable displays of impunity towards sexual activity that I have ever seen”.

Authorities in the Philippines launched an investigation into the 82-year-old last month after his son, 60, allegedly discovered “hundreds” of child sex images left behind at his father’s home when he moved from the country earlier this year.

Mr Markle Snr, who is estranged from Meghan, has been moved into a care home for dementia patients, prompting fears the FBI will not be able to interview him. Mr Remulla said Mr Markle Jr was still in Cebu City at the time of the announcement.

Meghan Markle said that she was left “deeply distressed” by the news.

She said she had been informed about “troubling and disturbing allegations” by the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018.

“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 added: “Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.”