White House spy scandal embarrasses Philippines: Arroyo aide
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-10-10 11:21

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo demanded an apology from opposition politicians who allegedly received classified US government documents stolen from the White House and FBI.

Philippine-born Leandro Aragoncillo, 46, who worked at the White House for almost three years before leaving to take a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), allegedly gave Filipino politicians documents stolen from US Vice President Dick Cheney's office.

A naturalized US citizen, Aragoncillo was arrested in New Jersey last month along with a former Philippine police official, Ray Aquino, and also accused of downloading more than 100 classified documents from FBI computers.

Arroyo has charged that the documents were part of an opposition plot to launch a coup attempt against her. She survived an impeachment complaint last month when her allies in the legislature dismissed charges that she stole last year's presidential election.

"We are concerned over the negative implications of this incident on Filipinos who are building a career not only in the United States but also in other countries," Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a statement Monday.

"This is an embarrassment for our people who deserve an apology from those who messed up the good name of our country."

Bunye said bilateral ties with the US remained strong "despite the shameful act of this political cabal", but expressed concern that "self-serving politicians can ruin our diplomatic integrity by spying on our allies".

Several opposition politicians, including detained former president Joseph Estrada, have all acknowledged receiving information from Aquino.

But they all denied that they received classified US data.

Aquino, who is connected to opposition lawmakers, has been indicted on charges of conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent.