Ex-Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim’s family still puzzled how he got COVID-19

The bereaved family of former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim are still at a loss as to how he contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which led to kidney complications that eventually caused his death.

According to Ian Cruz’s “24 Oras” report on Monday, Lim regularly went out for breakfast in July after quarantine restrictions had been loosened.

“On a weekend, lumalabas siya. Tatlo, apat, hanggang limang beses. Saglit lang ‘yun. Kain lang siya ng breakfast niya, pagkatapos, paalaman na,” Lim’s eldest child Roland said.

Lim was photographed in a Sta. Cruz, Manila restaurant last July 4 with some family members.

None of his relatives caught COVID-19.

The Lim family added that the only other people whom the late mayor came into contact with were his two house help, who have both tested negative for the respiratory disease.

“Nagtatanong nga sila saan nanggaling e bihira siyang lumabas, wala namang lumalabas sa kanilang mag-anak. ‘Yun ang masamang parte na hindi mo alam kanino nanggaling,” Roland lamented.

The son said Lim succumbed to a kidney complication caused by COVID-19.

“Actually, nagkaroon siya ng COVID pero ang ikinamatay niya is kidney failure, which is a complication na rin ng COVID,” Roland said, adding that the kidney failure did not occur until he got COVID-19.

“Magmula lang no’ng magkasakit siya, do’n na. Sabihin na nga nating ‘yun pala ang epekto ng COVID na ito, na lahat ng internal is nagagalaw,” he added.

Lim was found positive for COVID-19 after he was admitted to the Sta. Ana Hospital on August 4. He was transferred to a private facility two days later.

“Walang nag-expect na magkakaroon siya [ng COVID-19] kasi si tatay, physically ang condition niya is talaga namang sabihin nating napakaganda,” Roland said.

“Kaya even us were suprised no'ng sabihin na ayon nga, may sakit si tatay, nasa ospital, and the worst part of it is ‘yun nga, no’ng sabihin na may COVID,” he added.

He died at 90 last Saturday. His remains have since been cremated. -Julia Mari Ornedo/MDM, GMA News