Isang bukas na liham kay Pangulong Duterte

Mahal naming Pangulo,

Isang maalab na pagbati po sa inyo, una po sa lahat. nakasaad po sa liham kong ito ang “foreword” ng yumaong “icon ng demokrasya,” ang ating minamahal na Pangulong Corazon C. Aquino, para sa isang buhay na bayani, Manila Mayor Alfredo Siojo Lim.

Sinipi ko po, ang mga parangal at mga papuring ito ni Tita Cory sa librong may pamagat na May Langit din ang Mahirap, The Life Story of Alfredo Siojo Lim, authored by the late famous writer Nick Joaquin.

Hindi naman po lingid sa inyo ang kabayanihan ng dating Major General Alfredo S. Lim ng Manila Police Dept., NBI Director, DILG Secretary, Senador na si Manila Mayor Fred Lim.

Walang 1986 People Power kung sinunod ni Lim ang order ni Marcos noon na “Clear EDSA at all costs!” Ito ang untold story na hindi batid o alam ng sambayanang Filipino, sapagkat si “Dirty Harry” Mayor Fred Lim ang chief superintendent ng Northern Police District noong kasalukuyang nag-uumpisa ang 1986 EDSA Revolution.

Sana po, mahal naming Pangulong Duterte bago man lang mamahinga bilang public servant ang  isa sa  living legend of 1986 People Power, Mayor Fred Lim, na mabigyan man lamang po siya ng kahit munting pagkilala, lalo’t higit po ng ating mga kabataan na ipinanganak noong August 1986 EDSA Revolution. Ang malakingpapel na ginampanan ni Mayor Fred Lim sa 1986 People Power.

Panahon na po marahil para mabigyan ng recognition ang dating heneral ng Manila Police Department na si Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim.

Hindi pa man, nagpapasalamat na po ako sa inyong magiging kapasyahan, kagalang-galang naming Pangulo. Maraming, maraming salamat po. Mabuhay po kayo. God bless our country.

F O R E W O R D

By President Corazon C. Aquino

This year as we celebrate the Centennial of our Independence, we look back at the heroism of the Filipinos which paved the way for the liberty and democracy us all cherish today.

Today it is good to note the Filipino heroism is alive and well. I am honored to say that I have not only witnessed Filipino heroism at its finest but I walked with heroes during the darkest days of our present history.

Among them, I can single out one who, because of his principles and actions, proudly embodies the indomitable Filipino spirit: Alfredo S. Lim.

Alfredo Lim’s inspiring journey from his humblest of beginnings hawking rice cakes to support his schooling starting out as a mere best policeman to eventually becoming Mayor of Manila, is a testament to what Filipinos can do and can achieve.

His values unwavering respect of the law and decisiveness in times of crisis in his more than 48 years of unstinting service to the Filipino people make a Filipinos truly worth emulating.

I enjoin all readers to look at this story not as a mere narrative of Alfredo’s Lim life but as an instructional on patriotism and heroism.

(SGD) CORAZON C. AQUINO

KONTRA SALOT – Abner Afuang