Forensic search awaits authorization
The investigation involves four boxes containing computers, storage devices and personal belongings. Speaking Monday at Camp Crame, Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co estimated that forensic work could take about a week after investigators obtain the required warrant.
Co would not describe the files. He said investigators still needed to determine what they contain, where they originated and who owned the devices. Identifying any victims, if there are any, is also part of that work.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla gave a more explicit account, saying police inspecting Markle Sr.'s former Cebu home had found "a trove of child pornography materials as well as a laptop." He said full forensic results from the laptop would be available in about a week. Remulla also told The Guardian that "all signs point to a possible sex offender of the grossest kind," while emphasizing that authorities needed certainty before releasing their findings.
The PNP has not publicly confirmed that any particular file is attributable to Markle Sr. or that a forensic examination has established criminal liability. Finding suspected illegal material does not, on its own, establish who committed an offense.
The boxes and Thomas Jr.'s account
The Visayas field unit of the PNP's Women and Children Protection Center received the boxes from Thomas Jr. Police said he handed them over voluntarily and that they are now in police custody. The reported inventory includes laptops, desktop computers, hard drives, other electronic equipment and personal effects.
Reporting on the PNP briefing says the belongings were logged under 80 inventory categories and are being examined by Cebu's Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 7. Searching the data on the devices, however, remains subject to the warrant.
Thomas Jr. reportedly first encountered the suspected material while searching his father's belongings for a phone. According to The Daily Beast, he reported the discovery on July 10, 2026, to the FBI's tip line, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Pennsylvania state police. He said he received no response. After several weeks, he took the boxes out of storage and reviewed the remaining items, including three computer hard drives, with a local IT technician.
The boxes' storage history is unresolved. Reports variously identify Markle Sr.'s former residence in Cebu City and a friend's home in Cordova, Cebu. It is unclear whether those accounts describe separate stages of the recovery.
The Sun reported that preliminary checks suggested some alleged material dated to 2014 and 2020, before Markle Sr. relocated to the Philippines.
Markle Sr.'s denial and whereabouts
Markle Sr., 82, had not been charged at the time of the report. He says he has not had possession of the computers since leaving Mexico in January 2025, does not know who could access them and would welcome forensic testing.
He told the Mail on Sunday he has "never had sex with anyone under the age of 18." He also acknowledged having sex with prostitutes in the Philippines while he was single.
Markle Sr. arrived in Cebu in January 2025 and departed the Philippines in May 2026, returning to the United States. He had suffered a stroke and a blood clot that led to his left leg being amputated in December 2025. He is recovering in a Florida nursing and rehabilitation facility.
Legal questions and international coordination
Thomas Jr.'s allegations prompted an investigation into possible violations of Philippine laws addressing online sexual abuse or exploitation of children, known as OSAEC. Those laws cover a range of conduct involving children; whether an offense occurred, and which provisions might apply, depends on the evidence investigators establish.
The Department of Justice says its Cebu regional anti-trafficking task force is handling the matter. The PNP also plans to coordinate with law-enforcement authorities in Britain and the United States.
The FBI said it was "aware of the allegations and will provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities." It also said it would investigate related allegations involving federal violations of U.S. law.
An extradition treaty exists between the Philippines and the United States. It could become relevant if charges are brought and authorities seek Markle Sr.'s extradition, but no extradition request has been confirmed. Further investigative or legal action will depend on the evidence and applicable legal requirements.
Meghan's statement and a review in London
In an October 23, 2026, public statement, Meghan said she was "deeply distressed" by the allegations and expressed concern for any children who may have been harmed. She said maintaining distance from her father and not allowing him contact with her children was "to protect them."
Separately, reporting has identified a 2019 letter to London's Metropolitan Police that contained allegations of offending by Markle Sr. The letter was reportedly written by his first wife, Roslyn Loveless, who died in 2024.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that it sent the letter to Prince Harry and Meghan for their awareness but did not pass the allegations to other law-enforcement agencies. The force is reviewing how it handled the matter, including whether it should refer itself to the police watchdog.
