MMDA chair Lim ‘true public official’: AFP chief

MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, Gen. Gilbert Gapay, has described the late Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman, Danilo Lim, as a professional and a public official in the truest sense.

“He exemplified the qualities of a true public official who upholds professionalism and integrity as he ably led the MMDA in performing its mandate, and especially its front-line efforts to mitigate the effect of the (coronavirus disease 2019) Covid-19 pandemic,” Gapay said in a statement late Wednesday.

Gapay added that Lim, a retired brigadier general and member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1978, will be remembered as a respected leader who carried the AFP’s core values of honor, service, and patriotism beyond his military career, as a civilian public servant.

“His comrades in the military and his mistahs (batchmates) from the PMA Class of 1978 convey their sympathies to Brigadier General Lim’s loved ones and pray that his soul may rest in peace,” he said.

Gapay added that the entire AFP is extending its condolences to the family and loved ones left behind by Lim who succumbed to a heart attack on Wednesday morning.

Last Dec. 29, Lim announced in a Facebook post that he tested positive for the Covid-19 “despite all the health precautions” he observed.

He said he informed his direct contacts for the last week to monitor for symptoms and self-isolate for 14 days. Lim was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as MMDA chair in May 2017.

He was among the former military officers appointed by the President to various posts in the government.

Lim also served as deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs during the term of President Benigno Aquino III.