[Rappler’s Best] Tony Meloto falls

In the expansive farm in Barangay Encanto, Angat, Bulacan, where he built a community, 76-year-old Tony Meloto fell into the hands of the police on Friday, May 29.

The man who was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award (RMA) in 2006 (incidentally, his profile on the RMA site is gone) — and has, for decades, inspired wealthy donors and thousands of volunteers all over the world to support his Gawad Kalinga cause — was arrested on charges he trafficked men and sexually abused them. No bail was recommended.

The arrest comes nearly two years since two boys who had worked with him filed separate complaints with the justice department for alleged acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment, and trafficking in persons.

• The abuse allegedly happened in 2017; Meloto quit as GK chairperson that year. “I can open heaven for you,” Meloto reportedly told the boys in their private sessions with him. We recount their ordeal in this story.
• As early as 2015, some women already raised concerns about Meloto’s sexist remarks, in particular the ones he made at a speech in Honolulu.
• In September 2025, the justice department approved the filing of charges against Meloto with a Bulacan court.
• Yet, prior to that, he took over GK’s Enchanted Farm in Angat and banned GK staff from entering. Read more about it here.
• Meloto dismissed the charges against him as part of a “demolition job.” 

Meloto’s fall capped yet another bizarre week, with the walkout of the Senate minority and the arrest — and subsequent posting of bail — of Senator Jinggoy Estrada for graft charges filed against him in connection with the flood control corruption scandal. The anti-graft court on Monday, June 1, issued a separate arrest warrant against him and ex-public works secretary Manuel Bonoan for plunder and graft.

Watching President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. beam with pride as he spoke before a joint session of Japan’s House of Representatives and the House of Councilors on Thursday, May 28, I couldn’t help but wonder if any foreign leader would aspire to visit Manila to do the same — address both houses of the Philippine Congress. 

That would be far-fetched, right? Why would anyone want to face a Senate that has as members a fugitive and suspects in a corruption scandal, or a House that has another fugitive who’s on the run in Europe and a lawmaker jailed for allegedly killing a political rival?

Which probably explains the decision of Vietnamese President To Lam to cancel his planned visit on Monday to the Senate and a separate meeting with Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

Marcos has yet to show the cunning of his old man in navigating these choppy political waters, that he is perceived to be constantly gasping for air. His four-day state visit to Japan was the perfect escape from his domestic woes. 

• Tokyo usually hosts one state visit a year, which involves a call on Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace, a state banquet, and a summit with the Japanese prime minister. Last year, Tokyo hosted Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Read more.
• It’s the first visit by a Philippine president in 11 years, marking a milestone as both countries celebrate the 70th year of their diplomatic ties. Marites Vitug tackles this strategic shift in the relationship.
• Marcos was only the fourth Philippine president to address the Japanese Diet (it was Carlos Garcia, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III before him). Watch his speech here and read the full text here. 
• Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, Japan’s first female leader, played the perfect host, serving a musical cuisine at the banquet that got the two leaders belting out classics — “Hey, Jude”, “Imagine”, and “Wonderful Tonight”. 
• Japan did their homework, as the Philippines is known for its music diplomacy. In this December 2025 Hindi ito Marites episode, Marites Vitug walks us through the various occasions when singing set the mood for talks among leaders in Manila. Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright — all had been introduced to musical diplomacy on their visits to Manila.

But there was no singing in Singapore, as all gloves were off at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the premiere defense summit that brings together defense leaders from all over the world. Our very own Bea Cupin was selected as a delegate to the dialogue, where she saw how China continues to rankle its neighbors.

• Japan’s Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro rejected accusations that Tokyo was engaged in “new militarism” even as he blasted China for expanding its military with little transparency.
• Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. chided China’s continued refusal to recognize the historic 2016 Arbitral Award and presented Manila as a “point of convergence” in a fragmented Indo-Pacific. 
• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took the occasion to urge Asian allies to ramp up military spending to counter China. 
• China’s defense minister skipped the summit again.

On Sunday, May 31, the 2026 Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur came to a close. The National Capital Region again got the overall crown. Watch the final ceremony here and read about the triumphs and heartbreaking losses here.

Here are some of Rappler’s bests that you shouldn’t miss:

Dwight de Leon profiles the woman of the hour, congresswoman Jinky Luistro, “who rose from being a 19th Congress neophyte with an uncommon political surname, to a breakout star leading the prosecution team in a high-stakes trial.”

Jairo Bolledo reminds us of how Senator Jinggoy Estrada twice got away with plunder in the past. Will he get away for a third time? 

Iya Gozum tells us more about a state-funded biofertilizer production that has faltered — and what could happen with its privatization.

Dwight de Leon explains the Sandro Marcos bill that seeks to punish purveyors of false information, and its lurking dangers.

Gelo Gonzales takes from Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s fixation on Pokemon and gives us little-known information about this market that had a card sold for $16.5 million this year.

Val Villanueva shows us how he turned his rooftop into an enduring hedge against high electric bills.

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– Rappler.com

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