CAMP GENERAL ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan—Antonio “Tony” Meloto, founding father of Gawad Kalinga (GK), was arrested on Friday night time on human trafficking costs associated to 2 students of the nonprofit group who had likewise accused him of sexual abuse.
Police arrested 76-year-old Meloto on the GK Enchanted Farm in Barangay Encanto, his place of residence, based mostly on a warrant issued by Decide Adonis Laurel of the Bulacan Regional Trial Courtroom Department 76.
Earlier makes an attempt to serve the warrant on him failed, in response to the police. The native court docket didn’t suggest bail.
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Meloto is charged with two counts of certified trafficking in individuals.
He has repeatedly denied the complaints filed on the Division of Justice (DOJ) by two former beneficiaries of GK’s College of Experiential and Entrepreneurial Improvement (SEED).
The 2 male complainants, each minors on the time of the alleged abuses, accused Meloto of committing acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment and human trafficking in 2024. They filed separate complaints in opposition to Meloto with the DOJ.
‘Baseless, false, malicious’
They stated they have been chosen by GK for scholarships supplied to youths from poor communities, however have been later subjected to sexual abuses and coercive acts by Meloto between 2016 and 2017. The alleged incidents—additionally described within the complaints as an “abuse of energy”—occurred whereas they have been dwelling on the GK farm and through overseas journeys with the accused.
In a counteraffidavit dated Feb. 3, 2025, Meloto strongly denied the allegations, calling them “baseless, false, malicious and improperly filed,” and requested the DOJ to dismiss the complaints.
“I vehemently deny allegations on all counts of alleged masturbation of [the] complainant by me within the Pool Villa of the GK Enchanted Farm. I deny having abused my authority in any method, extra so within the alleged fee of the stated acts of lasciviousness,” he added.
As to the allegation of trafficking, Meloto additionally denied that one of many complainants was his private assistant or that he had recruited him to be his secretary.
Prima facie proof
In September 2025, the DOJ discovered prima facie proof and really helpful the submitting of two counts of certified trafficking in opposition to Meloto.
As a substitute of the preliminary criticism for acts of lasciviousness, the DOJ cited him for violation of Part 4(a), in relation to Part 6(d) of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Individuals Act of 2003, as amended.
In keeping with the DOJ Nationwide Prosecution Service decision, the complainants alleged that Meloto abused his authority over them whereas they have been below the scholarship program.
The division cited an alleged “sample” of abuse of authority and exploitation.
When arrested on Friday night time, Meloto underwent the necessary medical examination at Bulacan Medical Heart in Malolos Metropolis earlier than being dropped at the municipal jail on the Angat police station.
Included in 2003 however with poverty alleviation packages relationship again to the mid-Nineties, Meloto’s Gawad Kalinga has constructed tens of hundreds of low-cost houses for the poor, providing them a contemporary begin out of the slums.
Meloto and the GK as a corporation obtained the celebrated Ramon Magsaysay Award for neighborhood management in 2006. —With reviews from Isabelle Pechay and Inquirer Analysis
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