Philippine police have reportedly apologized to Thomas Markle Jr. after naming him a person of interest in the child pornography investigation into his father, Thomas Markle Sr., Page Six reported. A source close to the case told The Sun that “the matter has been cleared up, officers were very apologetic,” adding that police interviewed Markle Jr.’s fiancée, Rose Ann Gabuya, and others in their circle who helped resolve the matter.
The report comes one day after Thomas Markle Sr., 82, was arrested Friday in Florida on child pornography charges. The former cinematographer was released on bond with an order prohibiting contact with minors and returned to the dementia care facility where he resides.
Thomas Markle Jr. Turned Over Suspected Materials to Police
Thomas Markle Jr. was the one who initially alerted authorities to the allegations against his father. According to Page Six, he discovered suspected child sexual abuse material among his father’s belongings in late October and turned the materials over to the Cebu City Police Office. The Daily Mail also reportedly discovered child pornography in a storage unit near Thomas Markle Sr.’s home in Mexico and subsequently contacted the FBI.
Witness Allegations Led Philippine Officials to Question Thomas Jr.
During a Thursday press conference, Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that authorities had received information from a witness alleging that underage girls had been brought to a residence connected to the investigation. “We have a witness [who says] underage girls were being brought to his house. We will investigate whether the son was involved in the crime,” Remulla said, according to News5 Philippines. At the time, officials emphasized that Thomas Jr. was not considered a suspect.
According to The Blast, the concerns began after witnesses reportedly claimed that underage girls had been visiting Thomas Jr.’s property in Cordova, Philippines, and that ring lights were being used inside the premises. Gabuya told police that her younger relatives regularly visit the couple’s home for family gatherings and dance videos, and she provided several videos as proof that the equipment was used to create TikTok and social media content.
Officers Apologized After Interviewing Thomas Markle Jr.’s Circle
According to The Sun, senior police officials contacted Thomas Markle Jr. by telephone to acknowledge the misunderstanding, and officers interviewed his fiancée and others before resolving the matter. The Blast reported that the apology came days after Remulla publicly identified Thomas Jr. as a person of interest on November 5. Following his father’s arrest, Thomas Jr. told The Sun that he felt relieved and vindicated after the pressure of recent weeks. Page Six reached out to the Philippine National Police for comment, but the force had not issued an official statement confirming the apology as of the reports.
Thomas Markle Sr. Arrested in Florida After FBI Searches Storage Units
Thomas Markle Sr. was arrested after FBI agents searched two storage units registered to him within the Central District of California, according to a criminal complaint filed by special agent Laura Carter. In searches conducted on October 30 and November 4, agents found material suspected of containing child sexual abuse imagery. The complaint, which was obtained by Page Six, alleges that Thomas Sr. appears in two images alongside an underage girl. He was released on bond Friday with conditions including no contact with minors.
Meghan Markle Calls the Allegations Disturbing
Meghan Markle previously reacted to the allegations against her father in a statement to Page Six, calling the claims “troubling and disturbing.” She said that despite media distortion over the years, her distance from her father and her choice not to allow him contact with her children was “for one reason: to protect them,” adding that she trusted authorities were doing the same for other families. A representative for Meghan and Prince Harry told Page Six Friday that the couple had “no comment” on Thomas Sr.’s arrest.
Questions Remaining in the Markle Investigation
No official statement from the force has been released confirming the reported apology to Thomas Markle Jr., according to Page Six and The Blast.
Thomas Markle Sr. was released on bond Friday with an order to have no contact with minors, and the investigation into the storage unit materials found on October 30 and November 4 remains ongoing.
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