Palace in a bind over national artist honour for Poe

Manila: The presidential palace was caught in a bind on Monday after it said it cannot allow other people except a relative from accepting a national artist award to the late actor Fernando Poe Jr.

"I can understand if Miss Roces cannot accept the award but hopefully, she could send a member of the family to receive the honour," said Michael Defensor, executive secretary, as he referred to the refusal by Poe's widow, Susan Roces, to accept an award from President Arroyo.

Arroyo accorded the national artist award to Poe in honour of the actor's contribution to Philippine cinema and had invited Susan to attend the conferment ceremony to be held at the palace on June 9.

But a year and a half after Poe's death, Roces has yet to come to grips that her husband lost to Arroyo in the 2004 presidential elections.

Susan said she cannot accept the award from someone who had "stolen the presidency" from her husband.

The dilemma over the awards was worsened by a statement issued by Defensor that according to palace protocol only family members are allowed accept the title for the honouree.

Defensor said he hoped the Poe family would reconsider its stand and send a relative to accept the title to be conferred personally by Arroyo.