Thomas Markle Sr. appears to be a “possible sex offender of the grossest kind”, said the Philippines’ interior minister Jonvic Remulla.
Remulla said forensic investigators are expected to complete their work within seven days, at which point a formal statement will be issued.
He acknowledged the case’s complexity, noting that family disputes are entangled with the allegations.
Speaking to the Guardian, he said, “In these cases where family disputes are mixed up, we have to consider all the angles,” he told the Guardian.
“We want to be sure before we release the findings. Please give us a week to determine the contents and to come up with a definitive picture.”
Authorities in the Philippines are investigating Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, the wife of Britain’s Prince Harry, the Philippine justice undersecretary said on Friday, after allegations he possessed child sexual abuse images.
“Our Anti-Trafficking and Anti-OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) task force in Cebu is currently investigating the matter,” Nicholas Ty, Philippine justice undersecretary said.
Meghan, who is American, married King Charles’ younger son in 2018. In a statement, she said she was “deeply distressed” over the allegations, first published in Britain’s Sun newspaper on Friday.
Meghan said in her statement that she had known about the allegations against her father, 82, since 2018 and had prevented him from having contact with her children Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, to protect them.
