DOJ indicts Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto for sex trafficking

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State prosecutors say Tony Meloto sexually abused the complainants, over whom he held a position of power, 'to satisfy his lustful desire'

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) approved the filing of sex trafficking charges against Antonio “Tony” Meloto, founder of the internationally acclaimed humanitarian organization Gawad Kalinga (GK), after two former beneficiaries accused him of sexual abuse.

In a resolution released to the media on Wednesday, September 17, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon approved a recommendation to file two counts of trafficking in persons against Meloto. It was hinged on the fact that Meloto, 75, “held a position of authority over the complainants” and “abused them sexually to satisfy his lustful desire.”

The resolution by the DOJ National Prosecution Service was signed on September 10, nearly a year after the complainants Paul and Matthew (not their real names) filed separate complaint affidavits against Meloto, fondly known in GK as “Tatay TM (Daddy TM).”

Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia Laroza-Torrevillas pointed out that Meloto, as founder of GK and leader of the School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED), “received, maintained, and harbored” the complainants “by accepting them under care and control, giving them shelter and place of refuge, providing them some basic needs in order to facilitate exploitation.”

Torrevillas added: “When we speak of trafficking, we are dealing with the most vulnerable individuals of our society who are oftentimes the victims of trafficking. In these cases, both complainants joined SEED purposely to eradicate poverty in their families. They did not immediately complain and report the incident to Gawad Kalinga so as not to be punished or kicked out from the GK Farm of SEED.”

“Respondent wielded significant control over the scholars of SEED, many of whom were economically deprived, lacked family support, or had limited access to private education. Also, there was psychological coercion exerted by Respondent to be able to control the complaining victims,” the prosecutor said.

Rappler reported in June that two former male GK beneficiaries, Paul and Matthew, filed sex abuse complaints against the GK founder. They detailed incidents of alleged sexual abuse at the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan, where they attended SEED.

Meloto denied their allegations, calling them baseless. GK said it conducted an internal investigation that led Meloto to resign as chairman in 2017.

In wake of the sex abuse scandal, an internal conflict seems to have erupted in the organization he brought to worldwide acclaim.

Rappler learned from at least three informed sources that Meloto has quietly returned to the Enchanted Farm, while GK has vacated the property and, like a persona non grata, is barred from returning.

The Enchanted Farm has now been renamed “Blue Zone Encanto Farm.”

Rappler has repeatedly tried to reach Meloto for comment on the accusations against him, but neither he nor his camp responded. 

Known for his charitable works, Meloto established GK in 2003 as the social arm of Couples for Christ (CFC), a lay Catholic organization for married couples. While GK parted ways with CFC over an internal problem, it has built around 100,000 homes in the Philippines, gaining the attention of bodies such as the World Economic Forum.

This has earned Meloto numerous recognitions, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award, known as the Nobel Prize of Asia, as well as the Ozanam Award, which the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University awards to exemplary Christians. – Rappler.com