Former Manila Sports Council (Masco) Chairman Arnold “Ali” Atienza yesterday twitted incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim for branding him as an illegal drug user, saying he never touched prohibited drugs, being an Asian champion athlete who had devoted his life to the propagation of the sport of taekwondo.

Lim pointed an accusing finger on Atienza when the incumbent Manila mayor was asked his opinion on the proliferation of illegal drugs in his city during a debate with former Manila Mayor and his chief rival Lito Atienza, which was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Manila last Thursday.

Lim even claimed the younger Atienza was committed to a rehabilitation center due to drug addiction.

“This is gutter politics at its lowest. That is one big lie!,” the younger Atienza said. “If Mr. Lim does not have anything to besmirch my father’s name, he should not concoct tales like having a drug user in our family if only to prop up his sagging stature. Maybe Mr. Lim does not look at his own family”, Ali Atienza said. Lim had also claimed Atienza was never seen during his term as Manila Mayor from 1992-1998, when the elder Atienza served as his vice.

“If Mr. Lim is speculating that I was under rehab at that time, maybe he should try to recall his activities to remember that during those years, I even paid a courtesy call to him, and also former President Ramos, to present my gold medal as an Asian taekwondo champion,” the younger Atienza said.

Ali Atienza, who also once served as presidential adviser on youth and sports, became the very first Filipino gold medalist when he won the most coveted mint in the 1994 Asian Taekwondo Championships at the age of 21. “All my life, I devoted my time and energy to sports, even after my retirement from active competition. I kept myself fit, I can even deliver a roundhouse at any time I’m challenged,” Ali said. Ali used to head the Manila Sports Council (Masco) and it was under his watch when the Manila Youth Games (MYG) were started. The MYG became a feeder of champion athletes who excelled not only in the Palarong Pambansa, but in other regional and international competitions, as well, including the Southeast Asian Games.

In 2008, Lim’s son, Manny, was arrested and detained for alleged drug pushing, trafficking and drug use.The younger Lim and a companion were arrested on March 14, 2008 at the Pharaoh Hotel in Sta. Cruz, Manila during a buy bust operation. He was released on a P400,000 bail, which was reduced from
P600,000 after they were found in possession of around 100 grams of metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

The younger Atienza said he wants to find out what happened to the case, although reports had it that the investigators handling the younger Lim’s case have all been dismissed from service already.