The Philippine media organizations were not allowed to play and print the contents of a tape of an alleged wiretapped phone call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the government said Friday.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales told the radio dzMM that he has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to issue the formal warning to media organization.

"If media groups played the tape again, the Department of Justice is ready to throw the book at them for possible violations of the Anti-Wiretapping Act," he said.

The head of the Justice Department earlier warned that anyone, who is found having the controversial audio tape or make its contents public by broadcasting and printing, were liable for violation of the Anti-Wiretapping Law.

"This law is very strict because mere possession of something prohibited is a crime already," he told the radio.

According to Gonzales, even Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, who first made the tape public late last week, might be liable for violating the Anti-Wiretapping Act of 1963.

"He should be investigated," he said in the radio interview.

Bunye Monday made public in a press briefing the CDs containing the audio tape recorded a conversation between Arroyo and a " political officer" of hers identified only as "Gary" concerning the alleged rigging of the 2004 election in Mindanao.

However, he changed his tones by saying that he was not sure the voice in the controversial tape belongs to President Arroyo.

Bunye insisted that he won't resign as the result of what he has done despite strong criticism.

"I will stay as long as the President has confidence in me," he said.

Source: Xinhua