89-year-old Lim rebuffs critics: What old age?

Photo by Daphne Galvez/ INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Alfredo Lim, who is aspiring to become mayor of Manila again, has brushed off criticisms that he was too old to run for the city’s top government post.

The 89-year-old former Manila police chief and National Bureau of Investigation director even said that he would participate in extreme physical activities if that is what it would take to prove that he is strong enough to lead the nation’s capital.

“Ano ba gusto nilang pagsukat? Magtakbuhan kami sa Luneta? Sa Roxas Boulevard? O magbuhat ng barbell, dumbbell?” Lim told reporters in an interview on Friday. “Kahit anong gusto nilang paligsahan, go ako.”

(What kind of evaluation do they want? We race in Luneta? On Roxas Boulevard? Or lift a barbell, dumbbell? Whatever they want, I’m all for it.)

He then allayed doubts he is already bed-ridden and could no longer walk due to his old age.

“Pumunta dito ngayon dahil para sagutin ‘yung kasinungalingan na kinakalat nila na ako raw ay ‘di na nakakalakad. Ako daw ay nasa kama na lang dahil matanda na raw ako,” Lim told to an audience of senior citizens at a fast-food restaurant.

(Those who spread rumors that I can no longer walk must go here to answer their lies. That I am bed-ridden because I am already old.)

“Ang sagot ko naman tatanda rin kayo. Lahat tayo paroroon” he added.

(I would tell them they’d get old, too. All of us are bound to get old.)

He stressed age does not matter when it comes to leading Manila.

“Ang importante habang malakas pa ang mga katawan natin, habang nasa kabataan tayo, ang ating iisipin, ang ating gagawin, kung papaano makatutulong sa kapwa natin,” he said.

(What’s more important is while our body is still able, while we are still young, we keep in mind, we work on how we can help others.)

Lim is in a three-way race with incumbent Manila mayor Joseph Estrada and former Manila vice mayor Isko Moreno for the top local government position.

He is the official candidate of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for the Manila mayoral post. /kga