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Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto. Malacanang Photo

Article (news)

Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174165447236020170223-tony-meloto-MPB2.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Malacanang Photo </div>Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto is facing acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment and human trafficking complaints filed by two boys before the Department of Justice in November last year.In their complaint-affidavits, the complainants said they were among the beneficiaries of GK’s youth programs, such as the School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development or SEED in Angat, Bulacan in 2015 and 2016.The first complainant said he lived in what they called the “Spartan House”, where the supposed abuse occurred. The second complainant said there were at least three incidents of abuse before he felt traumatized.“I felt powerless as I was unable to stop respondent from committing these sexual acts on me,” he said.In his counter-affidavit, Meloto and his own witnesses denied the allegations of the complainants.“None of the witnesses of the complainant can convincingly testify to having witnessed me committing any act of sexual misconduct or abuse on the complainant or any other person,” Meloto said.“Indeed, complainant’s bald-faced and malicious lies run contrary to logic and human experience,” Meloto added.He noted that the one of the complainants who travelled with him was a willing traveler abroad, debunking the human trafficking complaint.“It is outside the pale of human experience for a person, who is being subjugated to human trafficking, emotional and sexual abused, to be able to straightforwardly attend social engagements, much less international social events, functions, and to deliver laudable testimonials and speeches,” Meloto said.Meloto stressed that the filing of the criminal cases were nothing but a harassment suit and asked the DOJ to dismiss the complaints.On Monday, Meloto appeared before the DOJ panel of prosecutors to submit his additional counter-affidavit.He was accompanied by his lawyer and refused to be interviewed.The DOJ panel of prosecutors is expected to evaluate the affidavits and counter-affidavits if the complaints will be filed in court or will be dismissed.

Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto is facing acts of lasciviousness, sexual harrasment and human trafficking complaints filed by two boys before the Department of Justice in November last year.

Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto is facing acts of lasciviousness, sexual harrasment and human trafficking complaints filed by two boys before the Department of Justice in November last year.

Gawad Kalinga founder faces acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment, trafficking complaints

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Gawad Kalinga founder faces acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment, trafficking complaints

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 11, 2025 07:50 AM PHT

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Updated March 11, 2025 10:08 AM PHT

Read More:

sexual abuse

tony meloto

gawad kalinga

SEED

sexual harassment

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