Two names that will surely be in my senatorial list when I go to the polls on Monday: Danny Lim (number 28) and Ariel Querubin (number 47).
While we were walking along Makati Avenue from the Makati City Hall towards Ayala Avenue morning of November 29, 2007, Brig. Gen. Danny Lim told us former Economic Planning Secretary Romy Neri was joining them. That was the height of the controversy over the anomalous $329 million NBN-ZTE contract.
Lim, at that time, was in detention in Camp Capinpin in Tanay Rizal in connection with the mutiny case filed against him and 26 other officers for allegedly having planned to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 after she was exposed to have masterminded the rigging of results of the 2004 elections with then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
He was at the Makati RTC as a witness in the coup d e’tat case of Magdalo officers led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes in connection of what happened in Oakwood on July 27, 2003.
Several hours after the walkout, as tear gas fumes unleashed by the Special Action Force of Philippine National Police were wafting through the functions rooms at the mezzanine of the Manila Peninsula, a disappointed Lim said on TV, “Dissent without action is consent.”
That has always been the principle that has guided Danny Lim: If you believe in something, come out and fight for it.
If Lim had only wanted power and wealth, he would just have toed the line of the government, closed his eyes and followed illegal orders of his commander-in-chief and chances are he would have been one of the three-star generals in command of the Philippine Armed Forces today instead of languishing in detention in Camp Crame.
As Lim wages his senatorial campaign (under the Liberal Party) from his detention cell, he still sees Gloria Arroyo as the “the single most destructive force in RP.”
“The evil she has infused into government has besmirched our institutions and we must go back to the original sin. She cheated in the 2004 elections. She lied. She covered it up and she paid others to lie for and on her behalf,” he said.
Lim expressed confidence that with the change of administration, he would be free to serve the people if he is successful in his senatorial bid.
Why should you vote for Danny Lim?
Let me reprint here the column of my colleague Col.(ret) Romeo Lim, about his distant relative, Danny. It was written in April 2006.
Romy Lim offers no apologies for his bias for what is true about Danny Lim.
Excerpts from Romy Lim’s column: “In these times of endless shenanigans perpetuated by people who are supposed to serve our country and people, this man shines as a small candle in a sea of callousness and indifference.
“The roots of newly promoted Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim can be traced to Xiamen, China, formerly Amoy. His father married a girl from Bohol but Danny, as he is called by both friends and detractors, was born and raised in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. He is the youngest of five brothers.
“He finished elementary and high school in Solano with flying colors. He was in his first year at UP when he took the entrance exams to the Philippine Military Academy. He topped the exams.
“While a plebe, he took the entrance exam to the US Military Academy at West Point, one of the world’s premier military academies. He topped the exams.
“After graduation, he returned to the country, took the Scout Ranger Course where he graduated not only No. 1 but also 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 (Tabak) Division in Sulu where his name became a byword due to his combat exploits. He was wounded twice in combat.
“Then AFP chief Gen. Romeo Espino noticed this officer and promptly directed GHQ to transfer then Lt. Lim to his alma mater, PMA, for instructor duty. He stayed for a few years then packed his bags again for the US to take up the Advanced Infantry Course at the Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia. He not only topped the course but was also awarded the Distinguished Allied Student Award for that year.
When he returned, he joined the First Scout Ranger Regiment as chief of operations.
“In 1989, then Capt. Lim led the Makati siege that lasted seven days. The failed coup attempt resulted in his incarceration for almost three years. He was released during the Ramos administration after the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between government and the military rebels. He was a member of the RAM-SFP-YOU peace panel in the negotiations.
“Moving on with his life, Lim took the Command and General Staff course which he again topped. He ran off with seven of the eight awards given by the school. Only the physical fitness award called the “Tarzan Award” slipped through his fingers and was given to a much younger officer.
“He later commanded the 42nd Infantry Battalion where he again made a name for himself for the various combat accomplishments of his unit. He also endeared himself to the Bicolanos in Camarines Sur where his battalion was based.
“He then became deputy commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment and later regiment commander.
“BGen. Lim is married with a daughter still in high school. Despite all his achievements and accolades, this soft-spoken and modest officer does not have his own house yet – in direct contrast to his siblings who occupy senior positions in huge corporations (also in direct contrast to some AFP officers we know). He has consciously chosen to live a simple life dedicated to serving his country and people.
“I take my hat off to this officer and gentleman whose values and principles seem to be dying traits in this mess of an AFP. We need more people like him if we are to even hope to lift our country out the quagmire it is in.”
He was in mine, sealed and delivered.
And of course, Col Querubin
Mabuhay kayo Gen. Lim and Col. Querubin…aasahan nýo ang BOTO ng Masang Pilipino!
Tuloy ang laban hanggang maipakulong natin ang mga traydor sa ating Saligang Batas at nang dusta sa 11 milyong botante not Once, but Twice.
Ang dalawang magiting ay dapat nasa senado. May pag-asa silang manalo base sa Magdalo survey.
Situations evolve… the very officer who joined in the coup d’état against Cory Aquino is now allied with her son.
Saludo ako sa dalawang magiting na opisyal. Gusto nilang magsilbi sa tao at bayan, payagan at iboto natin sila!
Ang dalawang bayaning MAGLILINIS at PANANATILIHING MALINIS ang serbisyo sa gobyerno.
Parang sabong panlaba – Ariel with Danny!
#47 at #28 ang kukulayang bilog na hugis itlog.
Hahaha! Ikaw talaga, Tongue. Pinag-scroll mo pa ako, hehehe.
Gusto kong makasiguro kung sila nga ang #47 at #28 na kukulayan at bibilugan ko kasi sa Magdalo ay #10 at #11 sila. Hindi ko napasin yun numbers sa unang sentence ni Ellen, punta kasi ako agad sa you tube, excited kung ano yung mga saludo ng tao kay Gen. Lim.
Chi, the 10 and 11 in Magdalo are their ranking in the survey.
OT:
Masayang balita lang.
SAbi ni Pastor Quiboloy sa balita sa PDI:
“Quiboloy narrated that for three days, he prayed and it was only on Sunday noon where he was given a “revelation.”
“Pinakita Niya sa kin hindi po ang mukha ni Gilbert Teodoro, kundi ang nakita ko sa aking harapan ay si President Obama. Nagkamayan kami, nagyakapan kami, nagpalitrato kami, ngunit sa uluhan po namin ay nakita ko, hindi po Barack Obama ang kanyang pangalan, alam niyo po kung ano? Gib Obama, Gibo Obama,” he said.
So who needs his endorsement? And Villar’s camp insists that Aquino should see a shrink? Buti nga di si Aquino ang naendorse nito. . .baka sabihin pa nang iba ay “birds of the same feather are the same birds”. . . . Baka nasira pa si Aquino. . .Only a desperate candidate would shame himself just to get this sect’s nod. . . God speaking directly to him? lol
Thanks, Ellen. Sana tumaas sila sa actual votes.
Hay naku, direct din ang line sa dyos. Tililing d’second.
Kung ako kay Gibo tatanggihan ko ang endorsement ni Quiboloy to preserve my galing at talino. heh!
Good for Noynoy and Erap that they were not endorsed by a psycho. Nakakahiya ang “revelation”.
Baka diyos sa ibaba ang kanyang kausap kaya tingin niya kay taning ay Obama,laking sira din kukote,buti na lang di humingi ng load{worth millions of peso} para ihayag sa text kung sino ang napiling ilukluk sa palasyo.
i will also vote for Gen Danny Lim
Sirs, mabuhay kayo Gen. Lim and Col.Querubin. Mga katulad po
ninyo ang mga dapat mamuno sa mga Pilipino.
nagmano naman yatang lahat ang mga iyan kay quibo pero mas hawig ang pangalan ni gibo sa kanya kaya niya pinili iyan.
Danny LIM, the only officer in the entire Armed Forces who succeeded in accomplishing impossible mission for other officers before him – conquered, captured and neutralized the most well entrenched MNLF stronghold in Sulu, the Bud (Mount) Daho. One, if not the best among military planners the army ever had.
Anyone can ask any officer and/or enlistedman assigned with the First Infantry( TABAK) Division, PA in Sulu during the 80’s. Only the likes of Esperon doesn’t know the heroic deeds of the then Lieutenant Danilo LIM because he (Esperon) did not experience actual battles. Or maybe trying to make himself not believe being not in the same level of galantry the latter possesses. Kung nakaranas man, baka nakasubsob sa pagtatago at labas ang kanyang nangangamoy na wetpu!
Ako nga nakausap ko din nu’ng isang gabi si Lord at bilin sa akin huwag ko daw ipagsasabi kahit kanino na nakausap ko Siya. Kaya pramis, kahit pilitin ninyo ako, hindi ko sasabihin sa inyo na nakausap ko Siya.
Kasama rin silang dalawa sa aking listahan!
Tapos na ako nagvote as an OFW. Danny Lim and Ariel Querubin! I have also told my folks at home to vote for these two heroes.
Yes, these two distinguished military officers should be in the senate so they can continue their fight against corruption in the military and other government agencies.
It would be pity if Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla are in the senate while these two valiant and righteous men are not elected. Ano ba ang nagawa ng dalawang artistang ito?
I and my family have agreed to elect these two valiant military officers come this May 10, 2010. Let’s pray for their success.
i am practically only for these two since they are the only once with a fighting chance to win in my list.