Legacy in question
In the mid-to-late 2000s, anyone aspiring to work in development looked up to Gawad Kalinga (GK) as a gold standard. Under the leadership of the charismatic Tony Meloto—whom most of us knew as Tito Tony—GK attracted some of the brightest young individuals to join the organization. GK also sparked a wave of social entrepreneurship, with many of today’s well-known social entrepreneurs tracing their roots to the movement that the organization built.
Last week, however, that reputation was called into question. Two former GK scholars filed complaints before the Department of Justice detailing alleged abuse they experienced at the hands of Meloto in 2017 at GK Enchanted Farm. The charges—acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment, and trafficking in persons—were formally filed by the two male complainants in 2024. In a counter-affidavit, Meloto denied the accusations, describing the case as a “harassment suit.”
In response, GK released a formal statement acknowledging that an internal investigation had been conducted. “With the help of professionals, including a crisis interventionist and therapists, we also initiated a series of actions to care for the complainants,” GK executive director Jose Luis Oquinena stated. He further explained that Meloto subsequently resigned as chair of Gawad Kalinga, SEED Philippines, and Enchanted Farm on Oct. 26, 2017.
I first met Tito Tony at a nonprofit gathering, but I had the opportunity to spend extended time with him when I, along with three other youth leaders, was selected to join the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2011. It soon became clear to me why many admired him. Despite being surrounded by the world’s most influential leaders, he seemed unfazed by their wealth and power. I vividly remember the temperature at -9 degrees Celsius, but all he had on was a windbreaker jacket because he had forgotten to bring a winter coat. In my young mind, this was further proof of his detachment from material concerns. Throughout the conference, he expressed his dissatisfaction over the lack of perspectives from low-income households in high-level discussions. He kept saying that hope lies in young people and constantly encouraged us to immerse ourselves in the communities we aim to help to fully understand their needs. After that trip, we continued to work with Tito Tony in various ways, including helping set up a community library in Enchanted Farm. Reconciling these memories with the allegations now being made is profoundly difficult.
It is human nature—and often emotionally easier—to side with someone we look up to, and some may choose to immediately dismiss the said claims. However, to do so would be to ignore the problematic realities of abuse and power dynamics. In the Philippines, where victim-blaming remains the norm, coming forward with allegations of sexual abuse always carries social stigma and personal risk for the victim. Even more so when the person being accused is a publicly respected figure and one whose work has directly benefited their own community. It is worth asking why the alleged victims would risk the potential ostracization if their claims are unfounded. GK itself did not refute the accusations. Instead, its statement chose to highlight the steps that had been taken to help address the distress of the complainants as well as the reason behind the organization’s decision to keep the matter confidential. I hope the judicial process will soon bring further clarity to this matter and facilitate justice and healing for all involved.
The news comes at a particularly challenging time for the nonprofit sector. The recent move to defund United States for International Development projects has exposed vulnerabilities in organizations that rely on external funding. We are still recovering from the widespread loss of trust caused by the Napoles-PDAF scandal, showing how nongovernment organizations (NGOs) could easily serve as potential conduits for corruption. Abuse allegations against a revered figure in the sector add another layer of disillusionment. Incidents like this call into question whether nonprofits have the capacity to keep themselves in check so they do not perpetuate the very harm they seek to address. This incident serves as a crucial reminder for NGOs to ensure proper safeguards are in place: including having prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse policies and a culture that prioritizes checks and balances in all levels of the organization.
In GK’s statement, Oquinena emphasized that the organization will not allow this controversy to “distract and discourage” them from their work. GK’s various programs have undeniably shaped the landscape of social development in the Philippines. However, the true test of an institution’s values lies not only in the impact of its programs but also in its ability to uphold accountability. How GK chooses to navigate this challenge—from strengthening transparency and implementing key institutional reforms—will ultimately define its legacy.
