‘Terror’ VCD alarms police

Calls for Islamic extremism and uprising against all non-islam has gone hi-tech and no longer confined on the arid desert of Palestine to the barren land of Afghanistan.

Police and military anti-terrorism agents expressed alarm over the sudden proliferation in Muslim communities in Metro Manila of reproduced video compact discs (VCDs) heralding acts of terrorism.

A copy viewed by The STAR, showed the video compact disc was originally released by the Palestinian Satellite Channel late last year.

Titled "Allah is Great, Oh Little Ones!" it featured a Palestinian lady singer doned in full military uniform performing against the backdrop of Muslim militants battling the Israelis and in some instances Osama bin Laden, while the Al Qeada leader was preaching.

All her songs called all Muslims to rise against all enemies of Islams with an introductory Arabic song with English translation "Dear al-aqsa, is calling us to shake the earth and pick up rocks."

"This is quite disturbing as we discover that these VCDs are being reproduced and passed around discreetly in known Muslim enclaves in Metro Manila," a senior anti-terrorism official told The STAR.

He himself obtained the reproduced copy of the reproduced terror propaganda.

"What I am seeing here is that terrorism had already tapped the modern electronic technology to promote the cause of Islamic fanatisms worldwide," he said.

He added that this is very dangerous as it could influence moderate Muslims, not only in the country but in other parts of the world to join the ongoing Islamic upheaval.

On the other hand, National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, said that he will coordinate with the Imams in Metro Manila to order the confiscation of the VCDs.

"I will coordinate with the Imams for the seizure of these VCDs," Velasco said when The STAR sought his comment on the influx of this terror propaganda in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Velasco initially admitted that he himself did not know that these VCDs are now in Metro Manila but assured that he will immediately order an investigation into the matter. – Jaime Laude