Former Manila Mayor Alfredo "Fred" Lim passed away at around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 8), his daughter, Cynthia Lim, confirmed. He was 90.
Prior to his passing, Lim was admitted at a government hospital in Manila after he tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to three-time Manila Councilor Niño dela Cruz and Lim's chief of staff, Ric de Guzman.
Lim served as a mayor of Manila twice: from 1992 to 1998 and from 2007 to 2013. He also served as a senator from 2004 to 2007.
A well-decorated police officer, he had served as chief of the Western Police District (now the Manila Police District), where he gained a reputation for his iron-fist style of carrying out law enforcement.
He had also served as Northern Police District chief, superintendent of the Philippine National Police Academy, and later as director of the National Bureau of Investigation.
According to the Senate website, Lim received various awards, medals, citation commendation in recognition of his outstanding achievement as a law enforcement officer and a public servant. Among these are:
• Outstanding Achievement Medal for professional competence as PNPA Superintendent in 1985
• Archdiocesan Plaque of Recognition for Leadership in 1988
• First Ten Outstanding Police of the Philippines (TOPP) Hall of Fame awardee of the Philippines in 1990
• Most Outstanding Law Enforcer Award from the Consumers Union of the Philippines in 1990
• President Osmeiia Most Outstanding Public Servant Award in 1992
• Dr Jose P. Rizal Immortal Award from the Knights of Rizal in 1994
• Gintong Ama Award in 1994
• Mayor of the First City in Asia from the Rotary Club in Kooringal, Wagga, Australia in 1994
• Medal Merit from the International Association of Lion’s Club in 1996
• Chino Roces Award in 1997
• The Outstanding Filipino in 1997
Former Mayor Joseph Estrada said in a statement posted on his Facebook page that he was saddened by Lim's passing.
"Magkatungali man kami sa pulitika, alam ko na iisa lang ang aming hangarin, ang mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang mahihirap nating mga kababayan lalo na ang Masang Manilenyo (We might have been political rivals, but I know that we had one common ambition: to give our poor constituents a better life, especially the masses of Manila)," said Estrada, who vied for the mayoralty post against Lim and Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso in the May 2019 elections.
"Hinding-hindi ka malilimutan ng Maynila (Manila will never forget you)," he added.