Philippines police have named the Duchess of Sussex’s half-brother as a “person of interest” in a sexual abuse inquiry involving their father Thomas Markle Senior.

Philippines Interior secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said Thomas Markle Junior, 60, “may also be involved in the crime”.

“But only as a person of interest so far, he is not yet treated as a suspect,” said Remulla, according to The Telegraph.

It was reported that witnesses told police they saw underage girls entering Markle Jnr’s home in the Philippines and “ring lights” through the windows.

However, Markle Jnr has explained the girls were “merely doing TikTok [videos],” said Remulla.

The Sun said the claim was made by a neighbour who had actually seen young relatives of Markle Jnr’s Filipina fiancée at the property.

Markle Jnr’s partner of two-years Rose reportedly told police her siblings aged 11, 14, 16, and 17, were regular visitors, as well as a young three-year-old niece, The Sun reported.

She reportedly showed officers several TikTok videos the family made at the property.

The Duchess’s father Thomas Markle Senior, 82, is under investigation over an alleged collection of child sexual abuse images found at his home.

The material was allegedly uncovered by Markle Jnr and reported to Philippines police.

Markle Jr handed over four large boxes of possessions to police in Cebu City, where the pair had been living.

Investigators are seeking to establish who downloaded or possessed the files and identify any potential victims.

Markle Jr became his father’s full-time carer after the former lighting director suffered a stroke in 2022.

The pair relocated from Mexico to Cebu City in January 2025, but Markle Sr subsequently returned to the US for medical treatment after a serious blood clot led to the amputation of his left leg.

Philippine police have warned they “will not let anybody … do this to our children”, as investigators examine a large collection allegedly containing hundreds or thousands of abusive images.

Markle Sr has denied all allegations against him and has not been charged.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co said: “We are very saddened by this, and we will not let anybody, whether foreign national or Filipino national, do this to our children.

“We have to establish the file and its nature, the origin of the files as well as ownership of these materials.”

“If there will be evidence found of any wrongdoing, we will have to establish possession during the relevant timeline, as well as the identities of the victims if there are any,” he said.

The Philippine National Police said an initial forensic examination of the material could take a week, although the quantity of evidence may mean the investigation continues for considerably longer.

According to The Sun, Thomas Markle Jr submitted a sworn statement to prosecutors before returning to provide a supplementary affidavit authorising cybercrime specialists to inspect the material.

The former window fitter said he was determined to help the investigation after discovering what he alleged were disturbing images among his father’s possessions.

“It took nine hours to sign all the documentation as I handed over all that stuff but I was relieved to get it off my hands,” he told The Sun.

“I think it will take months to check all these items and confirm my father is the disgusting monster I’ve now disowned,” he said.

The Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation director, Melvin Matibag, confirmed his organisation had been in contact with the FBI about the case.

Authorities are examining whether any alleged offences could fall within American or Mexican jurisdiction, given Markle Snr’s previous residences.

Responding to the allegations against her father through a spokesperson, Meghan said her “thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed”.

“I hope it can now be understood that … any distance from my father, and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them.”

-with AAP