Philippines names Meghan's half-brother a person of interest in father's abuse-image inquiry
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla says Thomas Markle Jr. is not yet a suspect, while their father, Thomas Markle Sr., denies having child abuse images.
Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said at a press conference in Manila on Thursday that Thomas Markle Jr., the half-brother of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is a "person of interest" in the Philippine inquiry into child sexual abuse material allegations against their father, Thomas Markle Sr. Markle Jr., 60, is not yet treated as a suspect, Remulla said. Markle Jr. had told police he found the images among his father's belongings at a former home in Cebu. Remulla said there are "signs" the son may be involved as well.
He also said police have witness information that underage girls were brought to a house, which Yahoo News and Newsweek say was Markle Jr.'s. Remulla said ownership of the seized devices is not yet determined and the FBI is helping. Markle Sr., 82, who returned to the US in May, denies the allegations, calling them "sick lies."
He has not been charged. Separately, the Daily Mail said it found further material in a Mexico storage unit. Mexican prosecutors said magazines and computer equipment were found but did not say whether any of it was criminal.
London's Met Police referred itself to a watchdog over a 2019 letter containing allegations about Markle Sr. that it did not pass on to other law enforcement agencies.
- six phonesdevices that came from the US, according to Remulla as reported by the PostNew York Post
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Liberal3 outlets
Markle Jr. named person of interest, father denies
The Guardian opens with Markle Jr. being named a "person of interest" and gives Remulla's words at length: there are "signs" of the son's involvement, but he is not yet a suspect. It reports more than 7,000 photos and one video, and says Markle Sr., who admitted paying for sex in the Philippines, strongly denies possessing child abuse imagery and suggested he was "set up." The Daily Beast calls the announcement a "bombshell" and puts the number of materials at around 7,500, noting that ownership of the devices is undetermined.
It ties the news to Meghan's coming speech in Brussels on online child safety and to the Met Police's referral of itself to a watchdog. Yahoo News adds a background section with Remulla's earlier remarks to AFP and the Guardian, Markle Sr.'s denials to the Daily Mail, and an FBI statement that it will "provide support, as appropriate." It also quotes Remulla: "We have witnesses that underage girls are brought to his house."
Center1 outlet
Remulla's statement and what 'person of interest' means
Newsweek leads with the police treating Markle Jr. as a "person of interest" and quotes Remulla: "To accuse the father only is only half the police work." It repeats his statement that witnesses say underage girls were brought to the son's house, and that he is not treated as a suspect. Newsweek explains the terms through Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, who says a person of interest "may be charged, may be arrested or may not be."
It also quotes Major General Wilson Asueta of the Philippine National Police, who said files seized are believed to include child sexual exploitative and abuse material and that forensic analysis continues. The report then covers the Mexico storage unit raid, where prosecutors confirmed magazines and computer equipment but not whether they were criminal, and Markle Jr.'s tip to the FBI about lockups in Los Angeles. It closes with Meghan's statement and the Independent Office for Police Conduct's decision to investigate the Met.
Conservative2 outlets
Half-brother may be involved, Philippine official says
The New York Post calls the development a "shocking update" in Markle Sr.'s "child porn investigation" and quotes Remulla: "To accuse the father only is only half the police work." It reports around 7,500 materials of underage males and females, and says the FBI is helping identify the devices' registration because six phones came from the US. It adds the Daily Mail's claim about a Mexico storage unit and quotes Markle Sr.: "I'm shocked, I'm hurt and I'm very upset."
The Daily Caller labels its piece a "REPORT," says Markle Jr. is "reportedly" a person of interest, and cites News5 Philippines for Remulla's remarks. It puts the materials at approximately 500, lists the surrendered phone and dismantled CPUs examined, and says ownership of the devices is not yet determined. It notes that Meghan has not commented on her half-brother's alleged involvement.
- Conservative outlets did not mentionThe Met Police referred itself to a police watchdog over a 2019 letter Reported by The Daily Beast, Newsweek
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- Number of materials of minors found
- The Daily Beast, New York Post: around 7,500
- Daily Caller: approximately 500
All sources: 6 articles from 6 outlets
Liberal (3)
- The Daily Beast: Meghan’s Brother Named as Person of Interest in Father's Investigation
- The Guardian: Duchess of Sussex’s estranged half-brother ‘person of interest’ in child sexual abuse inquiry
- Yahoo News: Meghan Markle's half-brother named person of interest in father's abuse case
Center (1)
Conservative (2)
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