Spy Probe Widens to Years Suspect Was at White House

Politics in the Philippines have been convulsive since Arroyo was elected to her first full term last year. Her opponents accused her of rigging the vote and sought this summer to impeach her. Arroyo's allies in Congress squelched that bid last month.

Last month, the Philippine Daily Inquirer published a series of articles detailing what it said were classified U.S. Embassy reports about the political turmoil. The newspaper said that it had received the documents from a source who wanted to remain anonymous and that it believed them to be among those downloaded by Aragoncillo.

In one document, Joseph Mussomeli, deputy chief of the U.S. Embassy at the time, reportedly advised that Arroyo's public support had faded and elements of all Philippine military services were planning an operation to remove her. In another, citing military and civilian contacts, he wrote that Philippine generals and more radical junior officers were separately plotting to oust her.

A document from late July reportedly detailed coup discussions at a secret conclave of about two dozen young army and naval officers in Manila. Another account, citing a clandestine source, described Arroyo calling an emergency meeting of her commanding generals to ensure their backing.

Philippine Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said in an interview that he had asked the U.S. Embassy for information about the investigation, including specifics regarding the classified documents and who in the Philippines received them. He said he was still awaiting a response.

"These are things that will give us an idea about the extent of the participation of our people here and the reasons they are doing this, if it really forms part of their scenario to destabilize the government," Gonzalez said.

Sipress reported from Manila.