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)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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