Aquino Hopes U.S. Will Stay Peace Corps Decision

President Corazon Aquino expressed shock today at the U.S. decision to withdraw the Peace Corps under threat of Philippine rebel attacks and said she hopes that Washington will reassess the move.

At a farewell reception at the presidential palace for the Peace Corps volunteers, Aquino vowed “unceasing and continuing” efforts to look into the threats against them until the rebels were crushed.

“I could not for a moment imagine that U.S. Peace Corps volunteers . . . could be the targets of our enemies who in their efforts to cover up their defeats in both domestic and international areas would now indulge in diversionary strategies to embarrass our government,” Aquino said.

“I close with the hope and prayer that your government will reassess the situation,” she said.

Peace Corps Director Paul Coverdell announced the suspension of the 29-year mission in the Philippines after the threat to the volunteers from the communist New People’s Army emerged last week.

U.S. officials said most of the 261 Peace Corps volunteers assigned in remote villages were recalled to Manila and began leaving for home today.

Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos said of the U.S. decision, “I think it’s rather hasty.”

At the farewell reception for the Peace Corps volunteers, U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Platt said he is “distressed” to see the suspension of the program and “outraged that the threat of violent acts by terrorist groups has forced us for the time being to interrupt” the mission.

Some volunteers, who said they did not feel that they were threatened, wept at the palace reception.

Kimberly Rylander, 30, an agriculturist from Denison, Tex., said in Tagalog, “I will come back when peace has returned because I left my heart here.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she spoke.

Another volunteer, who declined to be identified, said, “Apparently, there was an overreaction from the top.”

“They came and picked us up in beautiful bulletproof vans. There was no time to say goodby, and we were told not to say anything to anybody,” the volunteer said.