Ex-police aide has lost none of his verve

An aging former police aide proved he can still hack it by singlehandedly arresting a robbery suspect who preyed on a young girl on her way to school yesterday in Navotas.

According to Police Officer 2 Remigio Rivera, the officer on case, 16-year-old Mary Rose Ramos was walking to school at around 5 a.m. along J. Alonzo street in Barangay Daanghari when she was allegedly accosted by Celso Mabaquiao, 40, who lives on the same street where Ramos lives.

"Give me your cellphone and money! I will kill you if you don’t," Mabaquiao threatened while poking a knife at the girl’s side.

Ramos, terrified, obeyed but she screamed for help as soon as Mabaquiao fled.

Local resident and former police aide Silvestre Alejo, 54, who was in the area, heard the young girl’s cry and saw the fleeing Mabaquiao who was headed his way.

With a deft flick of his hands and feet, Alejo tackled Mabaquiao and sent him flying. He fell to the ground with a thud and stunned.

Alejo picked up Ramos’ mobile phone and money and gave them back to her before handing the surprised Mabaquiao over to the police.