Alfredo Lim
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Siojo Lim is the incumbent Mayor of the City of Manila and a former senator of the Philippines
. A widower, he first served as mayor of Manila
from 1992 to 1998 and returned to that post after winning in the 2007 mayoral election
.
in 1948. He received Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in 1951 and Bachelor of Law in 1963 both at University of the East
. He finished his Master's Degree in National Security Administration with honor at the National Defense College of the Philippines in 1981.
Lim started his police career in the early 1950s.One of his accomplishments was when he arrested then civilian Robert Barbers for illegal possession of firearm. Then Manila vice mayor James Barbers tried to negotiate with officer Lim to release Robert Barbers without filing of the case in court. But being a dedicated police officer, Lim proceeded in filing of the criminal charge. He was a distinguished police officer earning numerous commendations and awards. During the late 1980s, Lim helped defend the government of President Corazon Aquino
from numerous threats from rightist elements. Lim's led Manila Policemen to retake government installations from military rebels in the 1987 coup attempt. After retiring from the police, Lim was appointed National Bureau of Investigation director. Lim effected numerous changes in the NBI. Lim lobbied for more funding and increases in the pay of agents and other employees. Because regular agents had to be either Lawyers or accountants, nearly half of the agent force positions were vacant. There were few takers due to the pay offered. Lim then lobbied for the position of special investigator which was realized to complement the regular agents.
. As mayor, he worked on a strong law and order program which lessened crime. Lim also worked on some projects to improve the city's image which had been bad when he assumed office. He pushed reforms in the city government. His slogan was "Magaling na Lider, Disiplinado."
, who beat Lim's running mate Joey Hizon. Moreno ran with Danny Lacuna, a former Manila vice mayor.
Shortly after assuming office, Lim gave the go-signal for the removal of squatters in Quiapo, Manila's notorious “Little Vietnam”. The eviction will start of July 6, 2007, after a dialogue with imams (religious leaders) and village leaders who signified their approval, to clean the area of alleged killings and illegal drug activities. Meanwhile, Canadian Ambassador Peter Sutherland, said his government already had a number of programs for Muslims in Mindanao. Lim stated that "he would also make representations at the Supreme Court to see if a Sharia court could be established in the city, where 4,000 families lived in the Islamic Center alone". On July 13, 2007, Lim rejected the designation of Rosales as Manila police chief and ordered current MPD director Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa to remain at his post.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon (July 16) asked Lim to recall his "open-Mendiola" policy to prevent militants from marching there. PNP would recommend having protesters take their rallies to freedom parks. Upon assuming his post last June 30, Lim ended the ban on Mendiola by his predecessor Jose Atienza Jr., later modifiying the policy by allowing rallies at Mendiola on weekends and holidays. Calderon warned that if Lim will not change his position, the PNP will enforce the "no permit, no rally" policy. Lim formally reopened (July 14) the portion of Avenida Street to traffic, some years after Atienza Jr. blocked it off in favor of pedestrians. There were no traffic lights or signs, or traffic aides to guide motorists, pedestrians and commuters (the new traffic scheme in the Sta. Cruz district in downtown Manila) except for concrete barriers of the MMDA. Neither were there pedestrian lanes or traffic signs urging motorists and drivers to slow down at intersections.
Lim also ordered the removal of all business establishments, including bars and restaurants, in the Baywalk
area along Roxas Boulevard
(also another Atienza project) in an attempt to make the area a "wholesome park for everyone", with an unobstructed view of the famed Manila sunset. Lim claims that many of these establishments have no business permits and were selling liquor, which is a violation of applicable city ordinances.
On December 17, 2007, Alfredo Lim told MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando
not to conduct its sidewalk clearing operations in Manila since vendors were allowed to sell on sidewalks for humanitarian reasons. Lim stated: "I jokingly told Chairman Fernando that they are welcome anytime but I cannot guarantee their safety. Their problem is how they will get out."
On March 14, 2008, Alfredo Lim's son, Manny Lim, 44, a businessman, with 2 suspects were arrested in a hotel on Tomas Mapua Street by PDEA operatives during a buy-bust operation in Binondo. Manny had in his possession 100 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu
worth P600,000.
Lim and Reynato Puno
, on July 9, 2008, re-launched the Supreme Court’s "Justice on Wheels (JOW) Project", to improve access of justice to the poor. The Manila
City Jail was built for only 1,000 inmates but is now crammed with 4,602.
Manila councilor Dennis Alcoreza, on July 17, 2008, filed human rights
complaints before the Commission on Human Rights, against Lim, and other Manila
officials. Alcoreza accused Lim of forced body removal off the slaughterhouse on July 11, and illegal dispersal of protest. Meanwhile, 24 Manila city councilors resigned from their posts as members and heads of the different committees, prompting a reorganization. The councilors unanimously denounced the violent treatment by Lim's Manila Police Department (MPD) towards Alcoreza during the city government’s takeover of the Tondo
Vitas Slaughterhouse leased to Dealco Farms Inc.
In October 2008, Lim made ROTC training mandatory for all students at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(PLM) and City College of Manila (CCM), both city owned colleges.
. As a senator, Lim introduced legislation to bring back mandatory ROTC, but this bill did not receive any co-sponsors.
nominee in the 1998 election
, garnering 8.7% of the vote and finishing fifth in a field of eleven candidates. Sometime during the Estrada
administration, Lim served as Secretary of Interior and Local Government. But his stint was cut short when Estrada left office in early 2001.
2001 Mayoralty Elections
Lim ran against incumbent Jose Atienza in 2001, the first local elections after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took power in 2000. But perceptions of disloyalty to former President Estrada, whom he served as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) from 1999 to 2000, which arose when he, while still DILG Secretary, proceeded to EDSA in support of the break-away group of then Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes, weakened his candidacy and he lost to Atienza by almost 80,000 votes.
with his running mate Manila Fifth District Rep. Joey Hizon. He won the said election against Arnold Atienza
, the son of the previous mayor of Manila (Jose L. Atienza, Jr.
).
who is also the PMP chairman.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. A widower, he first served as mayor of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
from 1992 to 1998 and returned to that post after winning in the 2007 mayoral election
Philippine general election, 2007
Legislative and local elections were held in the Philippines on May 14, 2007. Positions contested included half the seats in the Senate, which are elected for six-year terms, and all the seats in the House of Representatives, who were elected for three-year terms...
.
Early life and career
Born on December 21, 1929 in 1324 J Sampaloc, Alfredo Siojo Lim is of half Chinese descent. (His father was of full Chinese blood, and his mother a pure Filipina) He finished his elementary grade at P. Gomez Elementary School in 1943 and his secondary at Far Eastern UniversityFar Eastern University
Far Eastern University in the University Belt area, West Sampaloc, City of Manila, is a nonsectarian, private university in the Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance, FEU became a university in 1934 under the guidance of...
in 1948. He received Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in 1951 and Bachelor of Law in 1963 both at University of the East
University of the East
The University of the East is a private nonsectarian university located in University Belt Area, district of Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. The university was founded in 1946 as a coeducational institution...
. He finished his Master's Degree in National Security Administration with honor at the National Defense College of the Philippines in 1981.
Lim started his police career in the early 1950s.One of his accomplishments was when he arrested then civilian Robert Barbers for illegal possession of firearm. Then Manila vice mayor James Barbers tried to negotiate with officer Lim to release Robert Barbers without filing of the case in court. But being a dedicated police officer, Lim proceeded in filing of the criminal charge. He was a distinguished police officer earning numerous commendations and awards. During the late 1980s, Lim helped defend the government of President Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
from numerous threats from rightist elements. Lim's led Manila Policemen to retake government installations from military rebels in the 1987 coup attempt. After retiring from the police, Lim was appointed National Bureau of Investigation director. Lim effected numerous changes in the NBI. Lim lobbied for more funding and increases in the pay of agents and other employees. Because regular agents had to be either Lawyers or accountants, nearly half of the agent force positions were vacant. There were few takers due to the pay offered. Lim then lobbied for the position of special investigator which was realized to complement the regular agents.
First term (1992-1995)
In 1992, he beat six opponents in the election to become mayor of ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. As mayor, he worked on a strong law and order program which lessened crime. Lim also worked on some projects to improve the city's image which had been bad when he assumed office. He pushed reforms in the city government. His slogan was "Magaling na Lider, Disiplinado."
Second term (1995-1998)
Lim was re-elected in 1995. During his first two-terms in office, he earned the nickname "Dirty Harry" for his anti-crime crusades that plays significant role in clearing Manila off with suspected and convicted drug pushers and drug runners. He succeeded in almost eradicating the city's red light districts and was almost feared, if not, respected by different criminal elements lurking all over Manila. He founded the City College of Manila that would serve to complement Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.Third term (2007-2010)
He took his oath of office on June 30, 2007. Under the governance slogan "Linisin, Ikarangal (ang) Maynila" (Clean, Dignify Manila, hence the acronym LIM), he is currently assisted by Manila vice mayor Isko MorenoIsko Moreno
Francisco Domagoso is the current vice mayor of Manila, Philippines, and a former three-term councilor of the city's first congressional district...
, who beat Lim's running mate Joey Hizon. Moreno ran with Danny Lacuna, a former Manila vice mayor.
Shortly after assuming office, Lim gave the go-signal for the removal of squatters in Quiapo, Manila's notorious “Little Vietnam”. The eviction will start of July 6, 2007, after a dialogue with imams (religious leaders) and village leaders who signified their approval, to clean the area of alleged killings and illegal drug activities. Meanwhile, Canadian Ambassador Peter Sutherland, said his government already had a number of programs for Muslims in Mindanao. Lim stated that "he would also make representations at the Supreme Court to see if a Sharia court could be established in the city, where 4,000 families lived in the Islamic Center alone". On July 13, 2007, Lim rejected the designation of Rosales as Manila police chief and ordered current MPD director Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa to remain at his post.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon (July 16) asked Lim to recall his "open-Mendiola" policy to prevent militants from marching there. PNP would recommend having protesters take their rallies to freedom parks. Upon assuming his post last June 30, Lim ended the ban on Mendiola by his predecessor Jose Atienza Jr., later modifiying the policy by allowing rallies at Mendiola on weekends and holidays. Calderon warned that if Lim will not change his position, the PNP will enforce the "no permit, no rally" policy. Lim formally reopened (July 14) the portion of Avenida Street to traffic, some years after Atienza Jr. blocked it off in favor of pedestrians. There were no traffic lights or signs, or traffic aides to guide motorists, pedestrians and commuters (the new traffic scheme in the Sta. Cruz district in downtown Manila) except for concrete barriers of the MMDA. Neither were there pedestrian lanes or traffic signs urging motorists and drivers to slow down at intersections.
Lim also ordered the removal of all business establishments, including bars and restaurants, in the Baywalk
Baywalk
The Baywalk is a promenade overlooking Manila Bay along Roxas Boulevard in the city of Manila, Philippines. The Manila Baywalk is a two kilometre stretch between the US Embassy and the Cultural Center of the Philippines just past the Manila Yacht Club....
area along Roxas Boulevard
Roxas Boulevard
Roxas Boulevard is a boulevard in Metro Manila, and an eight-lane arterial road that connects the center of Manila with Pasay City, Parañaque City. It is one of the major arteries in the city's metropolitan network, designated as Radial Road 1...
(also another Atienza project) in an attempt to make the area a "wholesome park for everyone", with an unobstructed view of the famed Manila sunset. Lim claims that many of these establishments have no business permits and were selling liquor, which is a violation of applicable city ordinances.
On December 17, 2007, Alfredo Lim told MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando
Bayani Fernando
Bayani Flores Fernando is the former Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority .He has announced his intention to run for President of the Philippines in the 2010 election. However, after talks with Richard Gordon, he agreed to slide as Vice President for Gordon's newly-established...
not to conduct its sidewalk clearing operations in Manila since vendors were allowed to sell on sidewalks for humanitarian reasons. Lim stated: "I jokingly told Chairman Fernando that they are welcome anytime but I cannot guarantee their safety. Their problem is how they will get out."
On March 14, 2008, Alfredo Lim's son, Manny Lim, 44, a businessman, with 2 suspects were arrested in a hotel on Tomas Mapua Street by PDEA operatives during a buy-bust operation in Binondo. Manny had in his possession 100 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu
Shabu
Shabu or syabu may refer to:*Shabu, a slang term for the drug methamphetamine used in Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia....
worth P600,000.
Lim and Reynato Puno
Reynato Puno
Reynato Puno y Serrano was the 22nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Appointed on December 8, 2006 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he was the 22nd person to serve as Chief Justice...
, on July 9, 2008, re-launched the Supreme Court’s "Justice on Wheels (JOW) Project", to improve access of justice to the poor. The Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
City Jail was built for only 1,000 inmates but is now crammed with 4,602.
Manila councilor Dennis Alcoreza, on July 17, 2008, filed human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
complaints before the Commission on Human Rights, against Lim, and other Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
officials. Alcoreza accused Lim of forced body removal off the slaughterhouse on July 11, and illegal dispersal of protest. Meanwhile, 24 Manila city councilors resigned from their posts as members and heads of the different committees, prompting a reorganization. The councilors unanimously denounced the violent treatment by Lim's Manila Police Department (MPD) towards Alcoreza during the city government’s takeover of the Tondo
Tondo, Manila
Tondo is a district of Manila, Philippines. The locale has existed prior to the arrival of the Spanish, referred to as "Tundun" in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. One of the most densely populated areas of land in the world, Tondo is located in the northwest portion of the city and is primarily...
Vitas Slaughterhouse leased to Dealco Farms Inc.
In October 2008, Lim made ROTC training mandatory for all students at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
University of the City of Manila
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, or the University of the City of Manila , is a municipal government-funded, tuition-free, university within the district of Intramuros in Manila, the Philippines...
(PLM) and City College of Manila (CCM), both city owned colleges.
Fourth Term (2010-present)
Fred Lim was re-elected to a fourth term as mayor of Manila during the 2010 general elections.Senator
He was elected Senator in the 2004 electionPhilippine general election, 2004
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 10, 2004. The major coalitions that participated are the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan composed of parties that support the candidacy of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino ,...
. As a senator, Lim introduced legislation to bring back mandatory ROTC, but this bill did not receive any co-sponsors.
1998 presidential elections
He ran a failed bid for the presidency as the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
nominee in the 1998 election
Philippine general election, 1998
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 11, 1998. The two main competing coalitions in the senatorial election were the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP and the Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino -led coalition composed of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino , Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino , the...
, garnering 8.7% of the vote and finishing fifth in a field of eleven candidates. Sometime during the Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
administration, Lim served as Secretary of Interior and Local Government. But his stint was cut short when Estrada left office in early 2001.
2001 Mayoralty Elections
Lim ran against incumbent Jose Atienza in 2001, the first local elections after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took power in 2000. But perceptions of disloyalty to former President Estrada, whom he served as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) from 1999 to 2000, which arose when he, while still DILG Secretary, proceeded to EDSA in support of the break-away group of then Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes, weakened his candidacy and he lost to Atienza by almost 80,000 votes.
2007 mayoral elections
He ran for the mayorship in the City of Manila in the 2007 electionsPhilippine general election, 2007
Legislative and local elections were held in the Philippines on May 14, 2007. Positions contested included half the seats in the Senate, which are elected for six-year terms, and all the seats in the House of Representatives, who were elected for three-year terms...
with his running mate Manila Fifth District Rep. Joey Hizon. He won the said election against Arnold Atienza
Arnold Atienza
Arnold Ilagan Atienza , also known as Ali Atienza, is an athlete, politician, and newscaster. He was the Presidential Adviser on Youth Affairs from 2005 to 2007 and was concurrently the head of the Manila sports development office and inner city development program from 2001 to 2007...
, the son of the previous mayor of Manila (Jose L. Atienza, Jr.
Lito Atienza
Jose Livioko Atienza, Jr. , commonly known by his nickname Lito Atienza, is the former city mayor of Manila and former secretary of the Department of Environment and Resources. He stepped down as mayor of Manila on June 30, 2007, after serving a three-year three-term limit for local government...
).
Resignation as President of PMP
Lim, on August 20, 2008, resigned as head of Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Partido ng Masang Pilipino - PMP) following a PMP’s executive committee resolution removing him as president of the party. He was replaced by Joseph EstradaJoseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
who is also the PMP chairman.