Markle case build-up vowed

The Department of Justice (DoJ) confirmed Thursday that state investigators are actively pursuing a case build-up involving Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, following the reported discovery of suspected child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM) among his belongings in Cebu.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida announced that the DoJ and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) are working closely to determine the facts surrounding the incident.

Investigators are focusing on whether the 82-year-old Markle actually possessed the illegal materials when they were found and whether there are sufficient grounds to hold him criminally liable under Philippine law.

“The case build-up is ongoing because, as far as I know, he was no longer here in 2022, yet items were found that we refer to as pornographic,” Vida said.

The Secretary emphasized the strict evidentiary standards the department requires before any formal legal action can be taken against an individual.

Link needed

“We need to establish the link; before someone can be charged or indicted for a criminal offense, we must be certain that he is the one responsible,” Vida said.

The ongoing probe is being jointly handled by regional teams from the DoJ and IACAT in Region 7.

They are working closely with the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which serves as the lead law enforcement agency in the investigation.

The inquiry was triggered after Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr., reportedly discovered the suspected illegal materials while sorting through his father’s personal possessions in Cebu.