Dagupan City (4 November) -- The Pangasinan mayor being linked to a robbery group that recently ransacked a Rolex store in Greenbelt Makati denied any involvement.

Mayor Leoncio Saldivar III of San Nicolas town however did not deny that Dennis Serquina, one of the suspects, worked under him last year as a worker in his piggery farm. But since Serquina was not satisfied with his P100 a day salary, he only reported for three days, the mayor said.

The other suspect, Warlito Rodriquito alias 'Wallet', a resident of barangay San Rafael of that town was a contractual worker. Saldivar said Rodriquito had not been reporting for a long time and considered absent without leave (AWOL) for many months until, he said, he learned of his involvement in the Alvin Flores gang.

Saldivar explained that he had no knowledge of the group's illegal activities until he was visited by PNP Regional Director chief Supt. Ramon Gatan and Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Percival Barba. Because of this, he said, he wasted no time to look for the suspects especially when Rodriquito's wife went to him for help.