Ex-Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim passes away at 90

August 9, 2020

Former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim passed away on Saturday afternoon due to complications caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso confirmed.

In a video message, Domagoso said Lim, 90, died around 5pm after being hospitalized due to the virus.

He expressed his condolences and thanked the former government official for his 30 years of public service.

“Mayor Lim gave his life for public service. He was a policeman, he served in Manila from patrolman to chief of police and after that he was assigned as the director of the National Bureau of Investigations,” Domagoso said.

The mayor added that Lim also became a secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, a senator for three years and served as the mayor of the city for 12 years.

Domagoso asked for prayers for Lim's family and reminded the public to take care of themselves during this pandemic crisis.

“Again, I sincerely sympathize with the family of Mayor Lim and let (this incident) remind us to take care of ourselves… Up until the end, Mayor Lim served us by reminding us of how serious the situation is right now, that this is detrimental to our health,” he said.

“Thank you Mayor Lim for your service to us and we will not forget you,” he added.

Domagoso said the local government briefly turned off the lights of the city clock tower on Saturday night as a gesture of respect.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also expressed the Palace's deep condolences to the family, loved ones, friends and supporters of the former mayor.

“The nation, particularly the City of Manila, remembers Mayor Lim for his tough stance against criminality and drugs. He left a legacy of law and order to his constituents,” Roque said.

“We pray for the repose of his soul as we keep the family of Mayor Lim in our thoughts and prayers during this time of great loss,” Roque added.

Before running for a government position, Lim was a former Major General and the Superintendent of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNP). He also became the Director of the Western Police District.

In 1992, Lim became the NBI Director before being elected as mayor of Manila and was re-elected in 1995.

He also ran for presidency in 1998 but lost to former President Joseph Estrada.

Lim served as the Interior Secretary from 2000 to 2001 and became a Senator in 2004.

In a statement, NBI said reforms that Director Lim instituted when he served as head of the NBI on December 23, 1989 up to March 20, 1992 will always continue to be a part of the agency.

“The National Bureau of Investigation expresses its deepest sympathies for the passing away of former NBI Director and former Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim,” it said.

NBI Officer-In-Charge Director Eric Distor said Lim will be greatly missed by his colleagues in the NBI because even after his stint as NBI Director, he kept coming to the Bureau during anniversaries, Christmas celebrations and other significant events.

"In honor of Mayor Lim, the NBI will observe the half-mast of the Philippine flag in the head office and all its Regional and District Offices across the country," Distor added.

The PNP also joined in mourning the untimely demise of the former interior secretary.

“We extend our deepest condolences to his family and offer our comforting thoughts and prayers in this time of bereavement,” it said.

“General Lim passed on to the great beyond on the same day (August 8, 2020) that the PNP commemorates the establishment of the Police Service in the Philippines 119 years ago. He must be really destined to go this way in the name of the profession that he truly loved and cherished,” it added.

PNP said they will always be grateful for the legacy of efficiency left by Lim and that shall serve as their own standard of performance in the police service.

“His undying words: 'The law applies to all, otherwise, none at all', reminds us that we live under a regime of law where the law is supreme, and nobody but nobody is above the law,” it said.

“The PNP is honoured to pay him our last respects and accord him the final honors befitting a police veteran and a statesman,” it added. Ella Dionisio/DMS