Danilo Lim

Danilo "Danny" Delapuz Lim (June 2, 1955 – January 6, 2021) was a Filipino soldier who served as Chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority from 2017 until his death in 2021.

Lim was born on June 2, 1955, in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, the youngest of five brothers.

His father, He Yia Lim, was a Chinese rice trader whose roots can be traced back to Xiamen, China, while his mother, Catalina Delapuz, is from Bohol.

The older Lim died when Danilo was still two years old.

He finished elementary and high school in Solano with flying colors.

He was in his first year at the University of the Philippines when he took the entrance exams to the Philippine Military Academy.

He topped the exams.

Lim was a member of the Pagkakaisa Masonic Lodge No. 282, which is under the jurisdiction of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.

Lim was a member of the Philippine Military Academy Makatarungan Class 1978.

He was the mistah of adopted member, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former President of the Philippines and the former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, General Delfin N. Bangit, AFP.

While a plebe, he took the entrance exam to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, one of the world's premier military academies, because of his outstanding performance as cadet.

He topped the exams.

After graduation, he returned to the country and took the Scout Ranger Course where he graduated No. 1 and led his team in registering the only encounter of the class during their test mission.

He opted to be assigned to Jolo after that.

He commanded the forward Recon Unit of the 1st Infantry Division in Sulu where he was wounded twice in combat.

Lim was recruited into the rightist Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) during the 1980s and was involved in the People Power Revolution, but came into public knowledge during the botched 1989 Coup d'État against the Cory Aquino government.

It was Lim, along with Captain Abraham Puruganan, who led the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment into what has been known as the "Siege of Makati."

He was incarcerated at Camp Crame in Quezon City from 2006 to 2010 for rebellion charges and an attempted coup d'état.

On November 29, 2007, the same group triggered a standoff at the Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati, where he called for Arroyo's ouster.

On the morning of November 29, 2007, Antonio Trillanes IV, Lim, Capt. Nicanor Faeldon and other Magdalo officials walked out of their trial and marched through the streets of Makati, calling for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

They then had a meeting on the second floor of The Peninsula Manila Hotel along Ayala Avenue.

Former vice-president Teofisto Guingona joined the march to the hotel, as well as some soldiers from the AFP.

A website forthwith appeared, proclaiming General Lim and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as the leaders of the incident.

The website entry read: "Senator Antonio Trillanes, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Magdalo soldiers, their guards and the people have started marching towards Makati triangle. We presently find in existence a dangerous concept where the armed forces now owe their primary allegiance and loyalty to those who temporarily exercise the authority of the executive branch of the government rather than to the country and the Constitution they have sworn to protect. That is a concept we defy and struggle to eradicate. If you believe you are a man of will and courage with unselfish motives and brave enough to fight against such tyranny, rise up and be counted!"

The Philippine National Police (PNP) gave Trillanes and Lim until 3 p.m. to surrender, as it evacuated guests and personnel inside the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

Lim said that they were undertaking the "fateful step of removing Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo from the presidency and undertake the formation of a new government''."

Security forces arrived at the hotel to arrest the rebels.

Judge Oscar Pimentel, Makati Regional Trial Court, issued the arrest order.

Sporadic warning shots were heard from the police outside the hotel, as smoke was seen coming from the hotel seconds after the shots.

At around 4:01 p.m., as armored personnel carriers arrived.

Hundreds of guests scrambled to vacate, and Trillanes said they will 'wait and see'.

Firing stopped at 4:30 p.m. Tear gas was fired into the hotel lobby as government troops advanced.

Soldiers surrounded the hotel at 5 p.m.

A V150 armored car then destroyed the main facade of the Manila Peninsula Hotel to allow the troops to enter, whereupon Trillanes, Lim and most other officers surrendered.

On September 20, 2009, Lim announced his plan to join the 2010 senatorial race as an independent candidate where he was invited to join 3 senatorial slates, namely the Liberal Party of then Senator Benigno Aquino III, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino of former President Joseph Estrada, and former Senator Jamby Madrigal.

After more than 4 years in prison, Lim was granted temporary freedom by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on May 31, 2010.

On February 16, 2010, Lim was allowed by a Makati court to post bail on a rebellion charge, along with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 16 other soldiers.

The bail was set for P200,000 each.

He assumed the post of Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs under Aquino's administration, but resigned in July 2013 due to corruption in the bureau.

Lim joined the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte on May 22, 2017, as MMDA chief, replacing acting chairman and general manager Thomas Orbos.