MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered troops in Samar to put a stop to the “ideological nonsense” and “criminal acts” of communists, saying they hamper the central Philippine island’s tourism development.

"If we want Eastern Samar to become a tourism destination, we have to put a stop to their [rebels'] ideological nonsense and their criminal acts once and for all," Arroyo said her speech in Balangiga town, Eastern Samar province on Tuesday.

Arroyo said Samar beaches could rival popular destinations in other parts of the country, but development was being held back by the presence of the New People's Army (NPA).

"General Tabaquero will play a big role in the local economy. So [it's] either get rid of them now, or get rid of them, but before 2010, right general?” she said, referring to Brigadier General Arthur Tabaquero, the commander of the 8th Army Infantry Division, who was in the audience.

Tabaquero's area of operations includes the entire Eastern Visayas region.

“You know your marching orders, whatever happens, they must be stopped," Arroyo said.

The President also said that she has instructed National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales to form a Leyte and Samar Peace and Security Council.

Arroyo was in Samar to promote Calicoan Island in Guiuan town as a tourist spot, but an approaching storm, tropical storm "Pablo," forced her to cancel all her engagements there.

Instead, the President attended the 107th anniversary commemoration of the Balangiga encounter between Filipino and American troops, in Balangiga town, and later convened a Regional Disaster Coordinating Council meeting on storm preparations in Tacloban City.