MS, Lotus execs and mother in mutual death threat claims

The Philippine Daily Inquirer Infotech section reports unseemly scrapping between the heads of Microsoft Philippines and Lotus Philippines. Death threats are alleged on both sides, and the Lotus MD, Victor Silvino, has filed charges against MS MD Darren Lockie, claiming "grave threats."

The threats, according to Silvino, took place on 16th November in the entrance of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. He claims Lockie said: "Mr. Silvino, where is your mother? You and your mother are finished, fuck you."

It's not exactly usual for IT inter-company slanging matches to involve mothers, but in this case, there's a reason. The two men fell out over Microsoft's "Dare to Compare" campaign last year, with Silvino claiming Microsoft had tried to disrupt the Lotus Release 5 launch. Shortly afterwards, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that the Bureau of Immigration was investigating the status of Lockie's work permit - he's an Australian with British citizenship. The complainant, apparently, was one Benigna Silvino. That's right, "your mother."

Lockie, who's apparently an amateur boxer, ripostes that on meeting Silvino he'd remarked that he felt his conduct, and that of his mother, had been unprofessional. He then claims Silvino said: "If I can't get you deported, I'm going to kill you. This time you're dead."

At which point Lockie claims he replied: "We could always go outside now and settle this like real men," and that Silvino then scurried off, later running out of the hotel lobby screaming: "I will kill you. You're dead, you're dead, you're dead."

It's a lot better than subpoenaed emails, isn't it folks? ®