Federal authorities have accused Tony Meloto, founder of Gawad Kalinga, of sex trafficking.
In a shocking turn of events, the founder of Gawad Kalinga (GK), Antonio 'Tony' Meloto, has been accused of sexual abuse by two former beneficiaries of the organization's School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED).
The complainants, Paul and Matthew, joined SEED with the hope of eradicating poverty in their families. However, they allege that Meloto, who wielded significant control over the scholars, exerted psychological coercion and abused his position of authority to commit these heinous acts.
The alleged incidents took place at the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan. Meloto has vehemently denied these accusations.
GK conducted an internal investigation following the allegations, which led to Meloto's resignation as chairman in 2017. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has since approved the filing of two counts of trafficking in persons charges against Meloto, due to his position of authority and the sexual abuse of the two former beneficiaries.
The charges were filed by the DOJ National Prosecution Service on September 10, 2020. The current owner of the Enchanted Farm, now known as Blue Zone Encanto Farm, is not identified in the search results.
The sex abuse scandal has caused an internal conflict within GK. As a result, the organization has been barred from returning to the Enchanted Farm. Meloto, despite the allegations, has reportedly returned to the farm.
It's important to note that Meloto has received numerous recognitions, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the Ozanam Award, for his work in building around 100,000 homes in the Philippines through GK.
This development comes as a stark contrast to GK's mission of eradicating poverty and providing opportunities for the economically disadvantaged. The organization was established by Meloto in 2003 as the social arm of Couples for Christ (CFC), a lay Catholic organization for married couples.
As this story unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and justice, even within organizations that aim to do good.
Sources: - our website.com - Various news outlets - DOJ National Prosecution Service records
