Espionage in the Whitehouse.

Leandro Aragoncillo a member of the Vice Presidential staff was caught handing classified materials to the GMA opposition in the Philippines. Apparently the material was damaging to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the President of the Philippines. Recall from my previous blogging she is in the middle of a scandal ridden term.

Now, before we get all worked up about another Bush administration flub up please note Mr. Aragoncillo also worked on Al Gore's staff.

Officials say the classified material, which Aragoncillo stole from the vice president's office, included damaging dossiers on the president of the Philippines. He then passed those on to opposition politicians planning a coup in the Pacific nation.

Source: ABC News - Espionage Case Breaches the White House Accused Marine Worked in Vice President's Office

Go to ABC story to see the photo of Mr. Aragoncillo with Mr. Gore. Don't think I am trying to shift blame here, I am not, I am just trying to head off head off stupid knee-jerk criticism of the President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

Anyway. HT to Michelle Malkin on this one who notes an obvious implication (at least it should be obvious if you have been reading Blogger Beer for sometime) of this story. Michelle points out a tidbit from another blogger:

Unfortunately, this will only help Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a corrupt president (worse than estrada) who really did steal the last presidential elections in 2004. She will use this news to dismiss those who are calling for her resignation (since June because of GLORIAGATE) as "coup-plotters," "destabilizers," and "power grabbers."

This is only going to make it worse for our country since it will probably prolong her stay in Malacanang.

UPDATE: Worse is that people might start believing Miriam Defensor Santiago's insane claim that former president Cory Aquino and Sen. Franklin Drilon are involved in an "assassination plot" against Mrs. Arroyo.

Source: Philippine Politics 04 - Drudge, Instapundit and Michelle Malkin picks up the Aragoncillo spy story

The fact that Cory Aquino is getting involved in a group to take power in the Philippines is scary. Anyway I hardly doubt these accusations of the spying for GMA's opposition is going to help GMA. It is quite clear GMA's opposition is very determined to remove her from office.