MARAWI CITY: Police are eyeing rido (clan feud) as reason behind the killing of two students at the Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus here on Tuesday night, September 14.

Marawi police chief LtCol. Nelson Madiwo told The Manila Times in a text message they are exploring this as a possible motive, citing the Maranaw culture.

He said initial investigations also revealed the killing of the two students might have been triggered by a video of an unidentified Maranaw woman allegedly posted on social media by the two victims.

The police earlier identified the victims as physical education student Hamza Rauf and civil engineering student Zinal Omar, both in their third year in college.

MSU System President Habib Macaayong and Executive Vice President Dr. Rasid Paca immediately alerted the MSU campus security and coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military.

Lanao del Sur PNP director Col. Christopher Panapan ordered his men to set-up checkpoints in strategic areas in the city.

Macaayong, meanwhile, called for an assembly on Wednesday, September 15 and assured the safety of the students.

The students, on the other hand, suggested CCTV cameras be installed around the campus.

“What happened is an isolated case, there are seven barangay (villages) within the campus university, if you know the culprits, inform anyone of us and we assure you due process of the law would be implemented. The problem is (if) no one will stand as a witness, don’t pass the blame to the university,” said Macaayong, who promised to install more CCTV cameras around the campus.

The case is now being handled by the Marawi PNP.