“I could never do what I’m being accused of,” said Thomas Markle Sr. in response to recent child pornography allegations

NEED TO KNOW

• Thomas Markle Jr. is reacting to his father, Thomas Markle Sr.’s denial that he possessed child pornography material at his Philippines home
• Thomas Jr., 60, allegedly found the illegal images and reported them to local police and the FBI
• “I challenge him to clear up the mystery of how it all got there,” Thomas Jr. told The Sun

Thomas Markle Jr. is reacting after his father, Thomas Markle Sr. denied allegations of possessing child pornography.

In an article published by The Sun on Thursday, Oct. 22, it was reported that Meghan Markle‘s half-brother, Thomas Jr., 60, alerted the “cops” and FBI to his alleged discovery of “hundreds, if not thousands” of child pornographic images at Thomas Markle Sr.’s home in Cebu, Philippines. 

Thomas Sr., 82, who is currently in a rehab centre in Florida, denied the allegations while speaking to The Daily Mail on Friday, Oct. 23. “I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me. I could never do what I’m being accused of,” he said, per the Mail.

Thomas Jr. described his father’s denial as “incredible” as he later spoke with The Sun. “I’m sure the huge piles of ­evidence I’ve taken to the police today will reveal the truth once the police experts examine it,” he told the outlet. “I would never have handed it all to the police if I wasn’t 1,000 per cent confident that it has nothing to do with me.”

“I’m sure that my father does not have the same confidence — but if he does, then I challenge him to clear up the mystery of how it all got there,” Thomas Jr. continued. “If that vile filth dating back 40 or even 50 years isn’t his, then who put it there, where would they have got it and why would they have done it?”

Thomas Jr. has alleged that he found four large boxes containing “hundreds, if not thousands” of child pornographic images at his father’s home, which he alerted authorities to, per The Sun. The Philippine police department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for confirmation.

The alleged images included videos of girls no older than 10 or 11 engaging in sexual acts and three photos of naked girls, one of which appeared to have been taken at Thomas Sr.’s former home in Rosarito, Mexico.

Thomas Sr. added in his response to the claims, per the Mail, “This is bulls–t. It’s just a bunch of lies. It’s sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies.”

In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Thursday, Meghan, 45, said she was “deeply distressed” by the allegations against her estranged father. “My thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” she added.

The Duchess of Sussex mentioned that she received a letter sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018, which included “troubling and disturbing allegations against my father, and I was given assurances that these were being investigated.”

“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, 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,” said Meghan.

“I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families,” she continued.

PEOPLE has learned that Meghan was made aware of the letter after her May 2018 royal wedding to Prince Harry, with whom she now shares a 7-year-old son, Prince Archie, and a 5-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet. Meghan’s father did not attend the nuptials.

Asked whether King Charles was aware of the 2018 letter referenced in Meghan’s statement, Buckingham Palace declined to comment, saying it was a matter for the Sussexes.

Thomas Jr. told The Sun, “I’m hoping that my father ends up in court either here, or most likely, back home in the US to face justice. That would be the best place if he wants to issue a denial and clear his name.”

The 60-year-old said he is “glad to see the back of” the alleged material he found at his father’s home, after handing it over to authorities.

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“I hope officers here, and eventually in the U.S., put their very best IT forensic guys on the job to confirm who downloaded and looked at this stuff. But I know where all the evidence points — and I’ll co-operate in whatever way I can,” Thomas Jr. told The Sun.

The FBI said in a statement to PEOPLE, “The FBI is aware of the allegations and will provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities. We will also investigate any related allegations of federal violations of U.S. law.”

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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