Thousands express sympathy in walk for Tria

THE SYMPATHY WALK for Senior Insp Max Jim Tria winds through the town center in Virac, Catanduanes, passing by the monument for World War II veterans who died in Bataan. FERNAN GIANAN

VIRAC, Catanduanes—About 3,000 people joined a 3-kilometer walk on Feb. 3 in sympathy with the family of Senior Insp. Max Jim Tria, one of the 44 police commandos slain in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province on Jan. 25.

The walk organized by the provincial board began before

4 p.m. at Catanduanes State University (CSU) campus, where the young Tria studied from kindergarten until high school.

It was joined by provincial board members led by Vice Gov. Jose Teves Jr., students and teachers of the university headed by President Minerva Morales, Bishop Manolo de los Santos and the religious community, lawmen from the Catanduanes Police Provincial Office, members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity where Tria belonged, representatives of the local Muslim community, batchmates of the late Tria at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), government employees and students from Catanduanes National High School and other public schools.

At the provincial capitol where the march ended, a short tribute was held in the slain officer’s honor, with white balloons released into the sky following a prayer.

In her remarks, Morales said the walk was an outpouring of what Catandunganons felt about Tria whom she extolled as not just an ordinary graduate of the CSU Laboratory Schools but a cut above the rest.

“May his heroism instill in us courage and bring change in our hearts,” she told the crowd on the capitol lawn.

Tria’s fellow Catandunganon batchmate Senior Insp. Bon Billy Timuat thanked everyone for expressing their sympathy with them and the Tria family.

“He was greatly admired,” he said of Tria, adding that the PNPA Class 2009 would remain strong despite the loss of three of their members.

Teves said the loss of the Tria family is the loss of the entire province. “His heroism will remain in the heart of every Catandunganon,” he declared in asking everyone to pay respects to the island’s hero.

Tria’s remains lie at the family residence in Virac. He will be buried on Saturday with full police honors. Fernan Gianan