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DATE=5/12/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=LOVE BUG PROBE (L ONLY) NUMBER=2-262269 BYLINE=AMY BICKERS DATELINE=MANILA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Investigators in the Philippines say they do not yet have enough evidence to arrest anyone in the "I Love You" global computer virus case. As Amy Bickers reports from Manila, it is not clear if the case will ever go to trial. TEXT: Investigators in the Philippines probing the love bug computer virus say they plan to issue a report Monday or Tuesday based on evidence they have gathered so far. Until then, however, law enforcement officials say no arrests are likely. At the center of the investigation is 23-year-old computer school dropout Onel de Guzman. Thursday Mr. De Guzman told reporters he may have accidentally unleashed the computer virus, but he couldn't be sure. Police say he is trying to escape responsibility. Officials are analyzing 17 diskettes seized from the apartment where Mr. de Guzman lived with his sister, Irene de Guzman, and her boyfriend, Reonel Ramones. Mr. Ramones was briefly detained earlier this week, but was released for lack of evidence. All three are considered possible suspects along with Michael Buen, another computer student. Carlos Caabay, deputy director of the National Bureau of Investigation, told a packed news conference in Manila Friday that a dearth of evidence is slowing progress. /// CAABAY ACT /// We do not file cases if we do not have enough evidence. We have filed a case against Mr. Ramones but the evidence is not complete, it is not sufficient. We have a difficulty and a problem. The case might be dismissed if we cannot augment or improve our evidence. /// END ACT /// More than a week has passed since the destructive computer virus was launched. Officials say they are concerned that, since then, vital evidence has been destroyed. They have been unable to retrieve the computer, which they believe is the source of the virus. It is unclear what, if any, of the possible virus creators maybe charged with, since the Philippines has no rules governing cyber crime. Experts say the love bug virus, which struck e- mail systems at lightning speed around the world -- including the U-S State Department and the British Parliament -- could cost governments and businesses up to 10 billion dollars. It is the fastest moving computer virus in history. (SIGNED) NEB/HK/AB/JO/KL 12-May-2000 07:21 AM EDT (12-May-2000 1121 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .