Government Corruption

Tony Meloto arrest on human trafficking and sexual abuse charges

Tony Meloto, 76-year-old founder of Gawad Kalinga and 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient, was arrested on May 29 in Angat, Bulacan on charges of human trafficking and sexual abuse of men, with no bail recommended. The arrest follows complaints filed nearly two years earlier by two boys alleging sexual harassment and trafficking in 2017, with the justice department approving charges in September 2025, representing a significant fall from grace for a figure who inspired global philanthropic support.