Vice President Leni Robredo expressed grief over the death of former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were killed in the powerful explosions in Beirut, Lebanon.
(OVP / Facebook / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Robredo said she is one with Lim’s family in mourning the demise of the long-time public servant.
Lim, who served as mayor for 12 years from 1992 to 1998, and again from 2007 to 2013, passed away on August 8 due to coronavirus infection. He was 90.
“Ang pakikiisa po natin sa kaniyang pamilya at sa pamilya ng lahat ng namatay (We sympathize with his family and the families of those who died),” Robredo said over dzXL.
The vice president also extended her condolences to the families of four Filipinos who died in a massive explosion in Beirut last week.
Robredo said she was saddened by the news that a number of OFWs were among the victims of the deadly blast.
“Ito iyong mga masasaklap na balitang natatanggap natin na kapag namamatayan tayo ng OFWs. Kasi alam natin iyong hirap na dinadanas nila para makapag-trabaho lang (It is sad news when we lose our OFWs because we know their hardships just so they can work),” she said.
Lebanese authorities traced the massive explosion to a fire that ignited 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at the Port of Beirut.
Apart from the death of the four OFWs, 42 were injured and two others remain missing.