DATE=5/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINES - COMPUTER VIRUS (L)
NUMBER=2-262221
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Filipino computer student drop-out Onel de 
Guzman says he could have accidentally started the so-
called I LOVE YOU computer virus. As Amy Bickers 
reports from Manila, Mr. Guzman and his sister held a 
news conference (Thursday) after being sought for days 
by police in connection with the case. 

TEXT:  Onel de Guzman acknowledges that he may have 
mistakenly set free the computer worm which swept 
around the world this past week. The virus spread 
rapidly from country to country, destroying files and 
costing up to 10 billion dollars in lost productivity. 

Mr. de Guzman and his sister, Irene, appeared at a 
crowded news conference Thursday at their attorney's 
office in Manila. They wore dark glasses and allowed 
their lawyer, Ronaldo Quimbo, to do most of the 
talking. 

/// QUIMBO ACT ///

The reports in the mass media in the past days on the 
so-called I LOVE YOU computer virus have identified 
Miss Irene de Guzman and her brother Onel de Guzman as 
somehow responsible for it. Media accounts have also 
reported opinions of legal experts - including 
officials from the Department of Justice no less - 
that some types of use of computer and Internet, 
although criminally punishable in other jurisdictions, 
is not punishable under criminal law in this 
country. 

/// END ACT ///

Earlier Thursday, officials investigating the virus 
summoned the pair to appear before them. But Mr. 
Quimbo made it clear that they would not do so 
voluntarily, since he believes his clients have not 
broken any laws.

/// QUIMBO ACT ///

No subpoena or warrant of arrest has been issued, so 
why do they have to give themselves up? Under our 
criminal procedure, a person may only be arrested 
under a valid warrant of arrest, which may be issued 
by the courts upon the finding of an actual case in 
court and after a preliminary investigation conducted 
by the Department of Justice.

/// END ACT /// 

Mr. de Guzman is one of two students at the 
Philippines' A-M-A Computer College who wrote computer 
programs at the focus of the investigation of the 
troublesome virus. Professors rejected his thesis 
proposal, which details methods for stealing computer 
passwords to gain free Internet time.  They said it 
amounted to high-tech crime. As a result, he dropped 
out of school. The virus was launched the day before 
the college held its graduation ceremonies.

At Thursday's news conference, Mr. de Guzman did not 
directly say whether he had written the virus, which 
penetrates recipients' e-mail systems and sends itself 
to everyone listed in their electronic address book. 
He told reporters he was unsure whether he had sent it 
into cyberspace. 

He also said that he believes Internet access should 
be free, since in his view, it functions as an 
education tool. (SIGNED)
NEB/HK/AB/JO





11-May-2000 07:03 AM EDT (11-May-2000 1103 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.