Malacañang branded yesterday as pure "intrigue" reports circulating that National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales has prepared an "exit plan" for President Arroyo due to the current political crisis.
Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio reiterated there was no such thing as exit scenarios for the President since there was no need for an exit.
"This is another form of intrigue. I see no reason, no justification, no relevance in Secretary Gonzales’ making such a plan," Claudio said.
He said he could not see any reason why Gonzales would spend time concocting an exit strategy for Mrs. Arroyo: "It is unlikely and implausible for Secretary Gonzales to be making such a strategy or plan for the President."
Reports had it that an "exit strategy" had been prepared and submitted by Gonzales to Mrs. Arroyo in case the lingering political crisis forces her to step down.
The plan reportedly includes three conditions to be met before Mrs. Arroyo agrees to relinquish power.
The plan was said to have been conceived by Gonzales and Jesuit priest Fr. Romeo "Archie" Intengan, who supposedly handed the report to Mrs. Arroyo over a week ago.
The report reportedly highlights three conditions that must be met by whoever would take charge if Mrs. Arroyo decided to step down: that Mrs. Arroyo would not be imprisoned; that she and her family would continue to enjoy freedom of movement; and that the government would not sequester the money already in the possession of the Arroyos. — Aurea Calica