SAN NICOLAS, Pangasinan: At least three alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter with police operatives along the boundary of Barangay Malico and Santa Maria this town on late Friday afternoon.

Pangasinan Police Provincial Director, Senior Supt. Ronald Oliver-Lee, told The Manila Times that the encounter erupted while joint operatives of the Regional Public Safety Battalion, Provincial Intelligence Branch, Provincial Public Safety Company and Regional Intelligence Unit were conducting combat and clearing operations along Camp 3 and Camp 4 of Barangay Santa Maria at about 6:30 p.m. were fired upon by a group of rebels.