The Philippine military Thursday said the reported bugging of telephone of former president Cory Aquino could have been done by some "interest group" and that the military has nothing to do with it.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines public information office chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro made the statement after local media reported a bugging device was found on the telephone line of former president Aquino.

"One thing is definite: There is no such effort by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to bug the former president. This could be the handiwork of some groups with interest which they can only say," said Bacarro.

Bacarro acknowledged that the military intelligence community has the capability to wiretap phone lines but these are done with the consent of legal authorities such as courts.

Local television network ABS-CBN News reported Wednesday a listening device was found during a routine check on the telephone lines owned by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Corporation Wednesday afternoon. This report was later confirmed by police.

Aquino, who served as president of the Philippines from 1986 till 1992, is considered an opponent of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Source: Xinhua