GK founder denies abuse, trafficking raps
Antonio “Tony” Meloto, the founder of Gawad Kalinga (GK), a Philippine-based poverty alleviation movement, has denied accusations of sexual harassment and human trafficking leveled against him by his alleged victims.
The two complainants, who filed separate cases against Meloto before the Department of Justice (DOJ) last year, accused him of committing acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment and human trafficking.
They claimed the incidents of sexual misconduct and abuse of power occurred during their time at the GK Enchanted Farm and during international trips.
In his counteraffidavit dated Feb. 3, Meloto “strongly [denied]” the allegations, calling them “baseless, false, malicious and improperly filed” as he asked the DOJ to dismiss their complaints.
Meloto, who said he has not been affiliated with GK since 2017, pointed out that it was “puzzling, dubious and wholly inconsistent” with human experience that one of the complainants, a 25-year-old man at the time of the alleged incident, only felt compelled to file the complaint seven years after their interaction ended.
“Here, after the alleged sexual advances, the complainant stayed in the GK Farm. During his stay at the GK Farm and for the duration of his scholarship in the School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED), complainant never initiated or filed any case for sexual harassment or acts of lasciviousness against me,” Meloto said.
Physically impossible
He also argued that his severe psoriasis and mobility issues made any alleged sexual acts physically impossible.
The GK founder likewise vehemently denied the allegation that he was always accompanied by a student of his choice to sleep in the Pool Villa.
“In fact, initially, I would only frequent the farm twice or thrice a week, and when I transferred to the Pool Villa from the Bamboo Villa, the times when students would go to the Pool Villa or accompany me there was when they would swim or they would apply medication on my psoriasis,” Meloto said.
“I vehemently deny allegations on all counts of alleged masturbation of complainant by me in the Pool Villa of the GK Enchanted Farm. I deny having abused my authority in any way, more so in the alleged commission of the said acts of lasciviousness,” he added.
As for the allegation of trafficking, Meloto also denied that one of the complainants was his personal assistant or that he had recruited him to be his secretary.
GK, which was officially established in 2003, was founded by Meloto whose experience in Bagong Silang, a relocation site for informal settlers, served as the roots for the nongovernmental organization which aimed to help Filipinos who did not own homes or lots.
In 2007, he stepped down as executive director, taking on the role of the organization’s unofficial global ambassador, visiting different countries to develop partnerships with institutions and governments.
Citations received
After building numerous GK homes and communities, Meloto started the GK Enchanted Farm in 2012, and in 2014, the SEED Program, which aims to “make wealthy entrepreneurs out of the brightest of the Filipino poor.”
In 2021, he said he retired from GK in 2017 to become a farmer in Bulacan.
Meloto has received several prestigious awards for his service and work in GK.
In 2006, he was awarded the first Gawad Haydee Yorac award, which recognizes the attributes, personal work ethics and national service of leaders from the private sector, government service and volunteer organizations.
That same year, Meloto won the Ramon Magsaysay award for community leadership and, in 2011, he received an award from the Nikkei Asia Prizes for his commitment to improving the living conditions of the poor. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
