NAKIRAMAY sa pamilya at nagluksa ang ilang senador sa pagpanaw ng dalawang dating mambabatas na sina dating Manila Mayor Alfredo “Dirty Harry” Lim at dating senador at noontime
show host, Eddie “Kuya Eddie” Ilarde.

Sa ngayon, nananatiling naka-half mast ang bandila ng Pilipinas sa harapan ng gusali ng Senado bilang pagpupugay sa iniambag nina Lim at Ilarde sa institusyon.

Sa magkakahiwalay na pahayag, pinangunahan ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III ang pakikiramay sa dalawang mambabatas.

Namayapa si Lim noong Agosto 8, 2020 sa edad na 90 samantalang si Ilarde naman nitong Agosto 4, sa edad na 85.

Sinabi ni Sotto na suot ni Lim ang maraming sombrero bilang isang public servant mula sa pagiging hepe ng pulisya ng Western Police District hanggang maging senador noong 2004 hanggang 2007 at pinakamatagal na naging alkalde ng Maynila simula noong 1992-1998 at 2007 hanggang 2013.

Naitalaga rin si Lim bilang hepe ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) noong 1989 at kalihim ng Department of  Interior and Local Government (DILG) noong 2000.

“My condolences to the family of former Sen. Alfredo Lim. He was a staunch advocate of peace and order and a foundation for the progress of the people. He risked his life and limb when called upon by his Commander-in-Chief,” ayon kay Sotto na tumutukoy kay dating Pangulong Cory Aquino.

“We salute him for his life of service,” dagdag ni Sotto.

Nagpahayag naman ng paghanga si Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri  kay Lim na tinawag niyang   “public servant to the bone.”

Ayon kay Zubiri, may malinaw na political vision si Lim at gusto nya palaging tapusin ang lahat ng gawain nya.

“He was a true man of action. Whether he was serving as police officer, senator, cabinet secretary, or Manila mayor, he was consistent in his work toward peace, order, and justice — so much so that we all came to regard him as our very own Dirty Harry,” ayon kay Zubiri.

Sinabi ni Zubiri na ibinuhos ni Lim ang buong buhay nya sa lungsod ng Maynila at ginawa ang lahat sa abot ng kanyang kapangyarihan na maging reyalidad ang pangarap na maging malinis at
crimeless ang lungsod.

“Mayor Lim may be gone, but Manila will always be a testament to everything he stood for,” ayon kay Zubiri.

Nagpahayag din ng kalungkutan si Senador Manuel “Lito” Lapid sa pagkamatay ni Lim. Aniya, sanhi ng pandemya, hindi niya nabisita ang kaibigan upang magpaalam.

“I will always bring with me the memories we had together during the 13th Congress. We were good friends but even as we were both senators, I called him Mayor because of his love for the
people,” ayon kay Lapid.

Sinabi ni Lapid na mabuting tao si Lim at kanilang pinahahalagahan at sinusunod ang kanyang payo.

“We are extremely saddened with the passing of our beloved and well respected party mate, former Senator and Mayor Fred Lim,” ayon naman kay Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

“Through his support for PDP Laban, he became a true friend of mine. We will certainly miss his words of wisdom, advice, friendship, and support. Rest in peace my friend,” dagdag niya.

Samantala, nag-Tweet naman si Senador Sonny Angara ng kanyang pakikiramay sa pamilya ni Lim. Sinabi ni Angara na ilan lamang si Lim sa nagpadala ng relief goods sa lalawigan ng Aurora nang bayuhin ito ng sunod-sunod na bagyo.

Nitong Agosto 4, namayapa rin si Ilarde, batikang broadcaster at host ng popular variety shows  na Student Canteen at Swerte Sa Siyete.

Ayon kay Sotto, pioneer broadcaster si Ilarde na nagsilbing tulay sa pagitan ng radyo at telebisyon at sa kanyang buhay pulitika para sa ating bansa.

“He returned to radio and his voice will forever remind us that love of country never ends. Goodbye Kuya Eddie,” ayon kay Sotto.

Sinabi naman ni Zubiri na nag-iisa at natatanging Kuya Eddie si Ilarde na nasa lahat ng dako at maimpluwensiya sa kanyang panahon dahil dominado niya ang airwaves bilang broadcaster sa
programang Dear Kuya Eddie.

“He was not just a host, he defined our idea of one. Articulate, incisive, but never self-serious. His voice earned the nation’s trust and confidence,”  ayon kay Zubiri.

“We have lost a senator, a congressman, an assemblyman, and a pioneering voice in Philippine media, but his legacy will continue,” dagdag niya.

Nanghinayang naman si Senador Francis Pangilinan sa pagpanaw ni Ilarde na dating presidente ng Liberal Party.

Aniya, kahit hindi sila nagkasabay sa partido, palaging bumibisita ang dating senador sa kanyang tanggapan.

Sinabi naman ni Lapid na isang masipag na tao si Ilarde na nagsilbi sa ating bayan bilang konsehal, kongresista at senador.

“Thank you very much for your service to the country and for your friendship, Eddie,” ayon kay Lapid.

Nagsilbi si Ilarde bilang senador noong 1970 hanggang 1972. (ESTONG REYES)