ACLAN TAGGED IN TRIA MURDERVox Bicol. Probers have identified a suspect, one Roberto Aclan as the hired killer in the daring assassination of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Nestor "Jake" Tria at the Naga Airport in Pili on May 22, 1998.
At around 10:00 a.m., while Engr. Tria was waiting for his flight to Manila and talking with some friends near the arrival area on the 2nd floor, the assassin came from behind, casually pointed a .38 caliber handgun at the victim’s head and fired a single shot. The sound of the shot triggered panic among the passengers and other people in the airport. Despite the panic that ensued, many witnessed the gunman casually descended the stairway down to the first floor and into the parking lot where his Suzuki Crystal scooter was parked. The gunman, along with two friends, fled towards the Maharlika Highway and vanished.
Tria was rushed to Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City, where he died 18 hours after the shooting, of a single gunshot wound on the nape near the right ear.
Several motives are being considered by probers. The latest "scoop" being circulated around by the underworld grapevine, is that Aclan, a gun-for-hire, has been commissioned to settle a land dispute in Lupi town.
Tria is the fourth DPWH official in Bicol to be shot and third to die in the hands of assassins. Ironically, the shootings were made in broad daylight. Killed earlier were Asst. District Engineer Floriano Sarmiento and Engr. Pedro Celebrado of the Project Management Office. Former District Engineer Manuel Azurin of the Camarines Sur 2nd Engineering District was also shot in his office in Baao, Camarines Sur but survived the attack.
