The AMA Computer College said yesterday it would institute disciplinary proceedings against a student named as a potential suspect in the "Love Bug" computer virus case, and he and other hackers could get kicked out of school.
The prospect of an academic disciplinary hearing might be the least of Onel de Guzman's worries, with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also carrying out a probe that could lead to criminal charges in one of the most spectacular virus outbreaks in cyber history.
De Guzman has acknowledged he may have accidentally released the "ILOVEYOU" program that struck e-mail systems from Hong Kong to Washington, but the NBI wants to find out if it was actually sent out intentionally.
AMA -- where a rejected thesis proposal by De Guzman bore a strong resemblance to elements of the virus -- said it was handing over all relevant information to the NBI.
The school said it also will begin its own actions against De Guzman and any other students it can find belonging to a shadowy underground computer group called GRAMMERSoft.
The GRAMMERSoft name appears in the program for the "Love Bug" virus, though the identities of members other than De Guzman have thus far remained secret.
An NBI source said their anti-fraud and computer crimes division has already subpoenaed the school records of other GRAMMERSoft members, who have reportedly gone into hiding.
The NBI was forced to take the approach after AMA administration officials refused to release records, citing confidentiality of those documents.
"We wanted to find out more information about the members of the group so that we can invite them for questioning. Our request for the records was turned down, hence the subpoena," the investigator said.
De Guzman had earlier confirmed the existence of the underground organization, but said it was only a group of friends sharing knowledge on computers.
De Guzman failed to graduate on May 5 -- after academic advisers rejected his password-stealing thesis proposal -- and AMA spokeswoman Bong Diaz said he is still listed on the rolls as a student.
The college said it intends to maintain "a high degree of professionalism and a deep-seated sense of ethics in the information technology profession," and the unleashing of a virus that rocked world e-mail systems may have violated provisions of the student handbook.
During a raid on De Guzman's apartment in Pandacan, NBI investigators seized 17 computer diskettes that they have been studying to try and decipher the identities of other potential suspects.
The diskettes have produced "leads that should be followed, good leads," according to Carlos S. Caabay, deputy director for investigative services of the NBI.
One file, a job application letter, revealed threats by the author to destroy the company's computers if ever he is rejected.
Sources said the NBI confirmed that a threat was sent by Michael Buan, a classmate and close friend of De Guzman.
Buan, who graduated on May 5, is reportedly not a member GrammerSoft.
The police are now focusing on identifying other members of the group that reportedly creates and sells high-tech thesis projects to students at the computer college. --