Antonio “Tony” Meloto, widely known as the founder of the poverty alleviation movement Gawad Kalinga (GK), has recently come under public scrutiny following his arrest in Bulacan over allegations of sex trafficking.

The 76-year-old social entrepreneur built a long-standing reputation in the Philippines for his work in transforming impoverished communities into more sustainable and dignified living environments through GK, which began as a grassroots initiative in 1995 in Barangay Bagong Silang, Caloocan and was formally established as a non-government organisation in 2003.Over the years, GK expanded significantly, focusing on housing, livelihood, and community development projects across the country.

Despite his legacy, Meloto has faced serious allegations dating back to 2017, when two male beneficiaries of GK programs accused him of sexual abuse during their time as scholars at the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan.The Department of Justice reportedly found probable cause to indict him based on these complaints.

Meloto has strongly denied all accusations, calling them baseless, false, and malicious, and describing the case as harassment in his counter-affidavit.Meloto stepped down from his role in GK in 2017 after an internal investigation by the organisation’s board.

Prior to these controversies, he received several international recognitions for his social entrepreneurship work, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2006, often referred to as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize, as well as awards from Ernst & Young, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, and the Nikkei Asia Prize.

He also has a background in economics from Ateneo de Manila University and was once a scholar in the United States under the American Field Service program.The case has placed renewed attention on his legacy and the organisation he helped build.