Danilo Lim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Danilo Lim
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Lim as part of the Philippine Army
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| Chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority | |
| In office May 22, 2017 – January 6, 2021 |
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| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Thomas Orbos (OIC) |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Abalos Jr. |
| Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence of the Bureau of Customs | |
| In office September 15, 2011 – July 23, 2013 |
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| President | Benigno Aquino III |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Danilo Delapuz Lim
June 2, 1955 Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines |
| Died | January 6, 2021 (aged 65) Manila, Philippines |
| Cause of death | COVID-19 |
| Resting place | Libingan ng mga Bayani, Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Aloysia Tiongson-Lim |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy Philippine Military Academy University of the Philippines |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Website | Official website: http://dannylim.com.ph/ |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Philippines |
| Branch/service | Philippine Army |
| Years of service | 1973–2010 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | Jolo, Sulu 1989 Coup d'État, also known as the "Siege of Makati". |
Danilo "Danny" Delapuz Lim (born June 2, 1955 – died January 6, 2021) was a Filipino soldier who became a Brigadier General. He served as the head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from 2017 until he passed away in 2021. Before this, he was held in prison from 2006 to 2010 for his involvement in protests against the government. He was given temporary freedom by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in May 2010.
In November 2007, he was part of a group that had a standoff at the Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati. During this event, he called for a change in the country's leadership. In 2009, Lim announced he would run for senator as an independent candidate. He later worked as a Deputy Commissioner for the Bureau of Customs under President Benigno Aquino III, but he resigned in 2013. He joined President Rodrigo Duterte's administration in 2017 as the MMDA chief.
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About Danilo Lim
Early Life and Education
Danilo Lim was born on June 2, 1955, in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. He was the youngest of five brothers. His father was a Chinese rice trader, and his mother was from Bohol. His father passed away when Danilo was only two years old.
He completed his elementary and high school studies in Solano with excellent grades. He was attending the University of the Philippines when he decided to take the entrance exams for the Philippine Military Academy. He scored the highest on these exams.
Military Career
Lim joined the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and was part of the Makatarungan Class of 1978. While at PMA, he also took the entrance exam for the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, which is one of the top military schools in the world. He also topped these exams.
Early Assignments
After graduating from West Point, Lim returned to the Philippines. He took the Scout Ranger Course, where he again finished as the top student. He chose to be assigned to Jolo, a challenging area. There, he commanded a special unit of the 1st Infantry Division in Sulu and was injured twice in combat.
Involvement in Protests
In the 1980s, Lim became involved with a group called the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM). This group wanted to bring about changes within the military. He was part of the People Power Revolution, a major event in Philippine history. He also became well-known during a protest in 1989, known as the "Siege of Makati," where he led a group of soldiers.
Manila Peninsula Incident
On November 29, 2007, Danilo Lim, along with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and other military officers, left their trial and marched to The Peninsula Manila Hotel in Makati. They called for a change in the government's leadership. Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona also joined them.
The police gave the group a deadline to surrender. They also asked guests and the press to leave the hotel for safety. Brigadier General Lim stated that they were taking this step to try and form a new government.
After the deadline passed, security forces surrounded the hotel. Warning shots were heard, and smoke was seen. Armored vehicles arrived, and tear gas was fired into the hotel lobby. One armored car even broke through the hotel's main entrance to allow troops to enter. The incident ended with the arrest of the soldiers involved.
Awards in Military Service
Danilo Lim received many awards for his service in the military, including:
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
Martial Law Unit Citation
People Power I Unit Citation
Distinguished Service Star
Bronze Cross Medal
Gold Cross Medal
Military Merit
Wounded Personnel Medal
Military Commendation Medals
Military Civic Action Medal
Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation Operation Ribbon
Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
Luzon Anti Dissidence Campaign Medal
Mindanao Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal
Long Service Medal
Scout Ranger Qualification Badge
Special Forces Qualification Badge
Temporary Freedom
In February 2010, a court allowed Lim to post bail for a charge related to his protests, along with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and other soldiers. The bail was set at P200,000 for each person. However, they could not leave prison immediately because they still faced military charges.
After four years in detention, Lim was finally granted temporary freedom by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on May 31, 2010. He was placed under the care of another military officer. He was released from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City. Even with his release, he still faced some military charges.
Political Career
Senatorial Race in 2010
On September 20, 2009, Danilo Lim announced his plan to run for senator in the 2010 elections. He officially filed his papers on November 27, 2009. He told reporters that he wanted to raise awareness about corruption in the government. He explained that he had served in the military for 36 years, always pushing for reforms, and now politics was his new way to continue that fight. When military personnel run for elected positions, they must resign from the service.
Initially, he ran as an independent candidate. Later, he joined the Liberal Party as a guest candidate. However, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) first said he could not run because they thought he didn't have the resources for a national campaign. Lim then provided more evidence, and a month later, COMELEC allowed him to be an official candidate for Senator.
Despite support from various groups, Lim did not win a seat in the Senate. He conceded defeat on May 11, 2010, after election results showed he was not among the top 12 candidates.
MMDA Chairman
On May 22, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Danilo Lim as the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). The MMDA is responsible for planning and coordinating services in Metro Manila, like traffic management and flood control. Lim served in this role until his death in January 2021.
Personal Life and Death
Danilo Lim was married to Aloysia Tiongson, and they had one daughter together.
He tested positive for COVID-19 on December 29, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Metro Manila. He passed away from cardiac arrest on January 6, 2021, at 65 years old. His body was cremated, and his remains were buried with military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, a cemetery for heroes in the Philippines.
