ILOILO CITY, Philippines?More clashes are expected between government soldiers and communist rebels following President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo?s order for the military to wipe out guerrillas in Samar.

Ms Arroyo issued the order to the military at a visit to Samar last week, according to Lt. Col. Oscar Lasangue, head of the 3rd Civil Relations Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Lasangue said Samar and Negros Island were priorities in the counterinsurgency campaign.

He said the military?s job was to reduce rebel strength to allow the Philippine National Police to take over the fight against the communists.

Lasangue said no additional troops would be sent to Eastern Visayas.

Rebel strength in Central Visayas, he said, has been substantially reduced as a result of the surrender of 30 rebels from Cebu and Negros Oriental.

The communist New People?s Army, however, insisted on its continued strength in a statement posted on its website.

The NPA?s Leonardo Panaligan Command in Negros said the ambush on soldiers of the Army?s 11th Infantry Battalion in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, last month showed that massive military operations have failed to crush the rebel movement.

Col. Gerardo Layug, 301st Brigade commander, said Army operations would focus on Panay Island.

Layug said the Army was expected to meet its target of reducing rebel strength on Negros Island this year.

A new battalion, the 82nd Infantry Battalion, was formed last week to reinforce soldiers assigned to Panay Island.

The 82nd IB would be composed of at least 400 soldiers and is currently in training in Camp Monteclaro in Miag-ao, Iloilo.