MANILA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Anyone who may be found involved in plotting to overthrow the government based on the testimony by a U.S. intelligence agent under trial will be charged with treason, a senior government official said on Friday.

    Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor told reporters that the government was closely monitoring the espionage case filed by the U.S. federal government against Leandro Aragoncillo, a Filipino-American agent.

    The U.S. court's resolution, other documents and information that could be gathered were "critical" to a possible case by the government against the plotters, he said.

    "If we can see actual evidence that can be used in court that there is actual effort to bring down the government, then we will file treason or rebellion," Defensor told reporters in a news briefing.

    The Philippine government insisted that the Feb. 24 foiled coup was an alleged conspiracy among the communists, rightist elements in the military and several opposition politicians.

    Aragoncillo admitted to a U.S. federal court on Friday morning, Philippine time that he passed U.S. government secrets to the Philippines in an attempt to help overthrow Arroyo.

    Reports said the information was handed on to "senior political and government officials" in the Philippines. However, anyone in the alleged plot has yet to be identified by Aragoncillo before court. Enditem