Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, mourned the passing of former city mayor Alfredo Lim on Saturday, August 8. He was 90.
The prelate said Lim has done a lot “to serve the country and the city of Manila,” adding that he will remember the former local chief executive for providing free education and medical services to the poor.
“I condole with the family of Mayor Lim. May God give him eternal rest,” said Bishop Pabillo.
In a Facebook post, the Manila Cathedral expressed its solidarity to the people of the city “in mourning the passing” of Lim.
“As the father of the city, Mayor Lim frequented the Manila Cathedral during special events and maintained a good relationship with the Church,” read the social media post.
The Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Nino in Manila’s Tondo district also condoled with the family left behind by Lim.
“We want to convey our heartfelt condolences to those left behind by former mayor Alfredo Lim,” read the shrine’s Facebook post.
“Rest assured of our prayers in all our masses for the eternal repose of his soul,” it added.
The presidential palace also expressed its condolences to the Lim family.
“We express our deep condolences to the family, loved ones, friends and supporters of former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim,” read a palace statement.
“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,” it added.
Lim served as Manila mayor from 1992 to 1998, and again from 2007 to 2013. He won in the 2004 senatorial elections, but resigned halfway through his term to run for Manila mayor.
Although he won the 2007 and 2010 mayoralty races, he lost his reelection bid in 2013, and his comeback attempt in 2016 to former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada.
He ran for mayor again in 2019 but lost to Mayor Isko Moreno.
He joined the presidential race in 1998 but lost to Estrada, who tapped him as interior secretary.
Prior to his stint in politics, Lim was best known as a decorated police officer who was tough on crime. His reputation earned him the moniker “Dirty Harry,” after the Clint Eastwood character in the famous film series about a cop who was ruthless against criminals.
He served the Integrated National Police for 30 years, became superintendent of the Philippine National Police Academy, director of the Western Police District (now the Manila Police District), and director of the National Bureau of Investigation.
