Wednesday, May 30, 2007 (Philippines)

Riyo Mori, Miss Japan 2007, wins the global beauty contest held this year in Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. (AP Photo) MALACAÑANG will keep its hands off the selection of the next House Speaker, Presidential Management Staff Director General Cerge Remonde said yesterday. Even as he made that statement, Congress’ website reported that President Arroyo is backing Speaker Jose de Venecia, a move that Kampi president Luis Villafuerte said is “not true and part of a disinfor-mation campaign.” The official website of the 13th Congress has an article on a show of “solid support” for the incumbent Speaker, and it quotes de Venecia as saying that Arroyo called him up to say she is supporting him. Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage [full story]