In the Philippines, do we have the legal constraints or laws against hacking?

From the news of USA TODAY dated September 2, 2003, it was stated:
“When the FBI traced the Love Bug virus to a student in Manila in 2000, he was not prosecuted because the Philippines had no laws against spreading computer viruses(http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2003-09-01-blaster-cover_x.htm).”
From the New York Times posted on October 21, 2000, it has reported:
“The Philippine authorities filed theft and other charges against Mr. de Guzman, but dropped them in August because of insufficient evidence. The case against him was weakened because at the time, the Philippines did not have laws governing computer espionage(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/21/business/a-filipino-linked-to-love-bug-talks-about-his-license-to-hack.html ).”

From New York Times News entitled World Business Briefing: Asia; Philippine on Computer Crime published on June 15, 2000, the following is being quoted:
“Spurred by criticism that the Philippines had no system to punish perpetrators of last month’s ”I Love You” computer virus, the president of the Philippines, Joseph Estrada, signed an electronic-commerce law. Under the law, hackers and those who spread computer viruses can be fined a minimum of $2,350 and a maximum ”commensurate” with the damage caused and can be imprisoned for up to three years. The law does not apply retroactively to those involved in the ”I Love You” virus”( http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/15/business/world-business-briefing-asia-philippine-law-on-computer-crimes.html).

What we have currently is the E-Commerce Law, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8792 created on June 14, 2000. This is “ AN ACT PROVIDING AND USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCIAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS, PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFUL USE THEREOF, AND OTHER PURPOSES.”

Sources:
Swartz, J.(2003). USA TODAY.Cops take a bite, or maybe a nibble, out of cybercrime Retrieved May 10, 2009 from http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2003-09-01-blaster-cover_x.htm Posted Sept. 2, 2003
Landler, M. (2000). The New York Times.A Filipino Linked to ‘Love Bug’ Talks About His License to Hack. Posted Oct. 21, 2000 Retrived May 21, 2009 from http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/21/business/a-filipino-linked-to-love-bug-talks-about-his-license-to-hack.html

New York Times News. World Business Briefing: Asia; Philippine on Computer Crime Published June 15, 2000. Retrieved May 21, 2009 from http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/15/business/world-business-briefing-asia-philippine-law-on-computer-crimes.html