Cebu court clears police to examine material from Thomas Markle's former home
Thomas Markle has strongly denied possessing any child abuse material, as a Philippine court authorised police to examine items taken from his former home in Cebu.
At a glance
- A court in Cebu, Philippines, approved a warrant for police to examine material from Thomas Markle's former home.
- The material is alleged to contain images showing the sexual abuse of children; Markle strongly denies possessing any.
- Markle's son, who lives with him in Cebu, told police he found the material in the house.
A court in the Philippine city of Cebu has approved a warrant allowing police to examine material taken from the former home of Thomas Markle, the father of the Duchess of Sussex. The material is alleged to contain images showing the sexual abuse of children.
Thomas Markle has strongly denied possessing any child abuse material.
Items handed to police included VHS tapes and computers, according to the BBC's report. The BBC's Jonathan Head reported from outside the home in Cebu.
How the material reached police
Markle's son, who has been living with him in Cebu, told police he discovered the material in the house where his father had been living before a return to the United States earlier this year.
The court has now approved a warrant permitting officers to examine the material taken from the property. The BBC's account does not state whether any charges have been filed, or give further detail about the material.
Denial
Markle, the father of the Duchess of Sussex, has strongly denied possessing any child abuse material. That denial was reported alongside the court's decision.
The warrant covers examination of the material rather than any charge, and the BBC report describes no court appearance by Markle. The allegation that the material contains images showing the sexual abuse of children is the basis for the police examination approved by the court.
Reporting from Cebu
The BBC's coverage was presented from outside the property in Cebu, where Markle had been living. His son had also been living there, according to the report.
The report does not say what prompted the son to come forward, or how long the material had been in the house.
Source: BBC World.
Questions and answers
- What is Thomas Markle accused of?
- A court in Cebu approved a warrant for police to examine material from his former home that is alleged to contain images showing the sexual abuse of children. Markle has strongly denied possessing any child abuse material.
- How did police get the material?
- Markle's son, who has been living with him in Cebu, told police he discovered it in the house where his father had been living before a return to the United States earlier this year. Items including VHS tapes and computers were handed to police.
- Who is Thomas Markle?
- He is the father of the Duchess of Sussex and had been living in Cebu, Philippines, according to the BBC report. His son has also been living with him there.
