[OPINION] The Tony Meloto case: Betraying the promise of development?

The Department of Justice recently indicted Antonio Meloto, founder of Gawad Kalinga, for two counts of trafficking in persons. Two former male scholars of GK’s School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development alleged that in 2017, Meloto abused them at GK’s Enchanted Farm in Bulacan and, in one case, during an official GK trip to France. Prosecutors described the acts as part of a “structured system of sexual exploitation, facilitated by organizational hierarchy and deception.” Meloto denied the charges, condemning these as part of “a well-orchestrated demolition job.”

While Meloto enjoys the presumption of innocence, this case sparks a wider reflection on how development organizations, like many other social institutions, can become arenas not of empowerment, as intended, but of disempowerment and harm, including sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH).

Do no harm

At the heart of this reflection is the principle of “do no harm.” This principle is more commonly associated with medical ethics, but it has become a fundamental ethical and operational standard in development work: to ensure that development interventions do not worsen existing vulnerabilities or create new forms of harm for the persons or communities they aim to support.

This principle covers two distinct but interconnected dimensions of harm. First is when well-intentioned projects cause unintended harms, such as creating environmental damage or harming community livelihoods. Second is when harm is caused by deliberate misconduct of development workers abusing their positions of trust and power. The GK case is a clear possible example of the second kind of harm.

Power asymmetries

The stark power asymmetries inherent in development work render these spaces particularly vulnerable to abuse.

In this case, the complainants were reportedly young, poor, and dependent on GK for training to improve their families’ socioeconomic status. The accused, on the other hand, is the multi-awarded and internationally recognized GK founder — their benefactor. In such contexts, resisting and reporting unwanted sexual advances are nearly impossible.

These vulnerabilities are not unique to GK. Development programs everywhere face comparable risks: control over resources and opportunities such as stipends, jobs, trainings, education; projects located in isolated or remote areas with weak oversight; cultures of deference to charismatic benefactors and powerful donors; and organizational fear of reputational damage, discouraging whistleblowing and suppressing bystander support. These factors risk not only reproducing but exacerbating the very unequal power relations development efforts are meant to dismantle.

Social justice and transformation

The “do no harm” principle is not only about minimizing risks. It is about social justice: the empowerment of marginalized communities and the rebalancing of power between rich and poor and between men, women, and gender-diverse persons. It is about transforming gender and social relations and dismantling structures that perpetuate disadvantage and normalize violence or exploitation.

The tragedy of the Meloto case, if the allegations are true, is that it represents a betrayal not just of individual victims, families, and communities, but of the promise of development itself. Projects that claim to address the disempowerment arising from the intersections of poverty, geography, youth, and dearth of skills cannot, in the same breath, exploit this same vulnerability and allow patriarchal power to manifest in its most abusive form. “Do no harm” and “social justice” are inseparable: the former is the ethical minimum; the latter is the transformative goal.

Lessons from global organizations

The global development sector has confronted similar failures. In 2018, Oxfam staff in Haiti were found to have sexually exploited earthquake survivors, including minors. In the same year, Save the Children UK was confronted with serious allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct committed by its senior officials. Earlier in 2015, the World Bank canceled its flagship project in Uganda after workers were credibly linked to sexual exploitation of girls in project communities and sexual harassment of female employees.

In response to these crises, multilateral development banks, international nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and donors adopted joint compacts and organizational policies to prevent and address SEAH.

These frameworks establish zero-tolerance safeguards covering staff, partners, and contractors. Projects must undergo risk-based assessments with mitigation measures built into design. Responses are survivor-centered, ensuring dignity, confidentiality, informed consent, and access to services. Institutions must provide safe reporting channels, conduct investigations, and sanction both perpetrators and enabling leadership. Codes of conduct are mandatory, supported by training and culture-change programs that break silence and encourage bystander action. Transparency and monitoring reinforce accountability and trust. Above all, these frameworks commit organizations to protect, not endanger, the people they serve.

Obligations of Philippine NGOs

Philippines NGOs are legally bound to uphold laws protecting individuals from SEAH. The laws on anti-sexual harassment (Republic Act No. 7877), safe spaces (RA 11313), and anti-trafficking in persons (RA 9208, RA 10364) require institutions to prevent, investigate, and penalize abuse in work, education, training, and online settings. Obligations include forming committees on decorum and investigation or CODI, adopting clear policies, awareness-raising, ensuring safe reporting, and holding both perpetrators and negligent leadership accountable. These laws create a robust framework that compels NGOs to actively prevent and respond to SEAH.

Call to action

The imperative is clear: NGOs must uphold Philippine laws and global standards on SEAH and embed the principle of “do no harm” in all their work. This is not only a legal duty but a moral one. Development must be anchored in respect, dignity, and justice. To be true to their mission, organizations must confront patriarchal norms, empower survivors, and enforce accountability. Only then can development serve as a genuine force for social justice. – Rappler.com

Claire AP Luczon is an independent consultant on women’s human rights, gender equality, and social inclusion. Her area of expertise includes SEAH in the context of development projects.