MANILA, Philippines?United Opposition president Jejomar Binay assailed the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Friday for not dismantling streamers critical of former president Corazon Aquino.

"The MMDA is quick to dismantle tarpaulin streamers along major roads, but conveniently ignores these 'hate' posters," he said of the materials that were seen on the footbridges of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, portions of Edsa and Manila.

The "hate" streamers, which appeared as the country marked the 23rd anniversary of the Edsa 1 revolution, bore the message "Yes, we're sorry, Edsa 1 was hijacked by vested interests."

It had an image of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, morphing into Aquino, with the recognizable ears of former President Fidel Ramos.

Ramos criticized President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday for choosing to attend a job fair over the Edsa 1 celebration.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, however, said he did not know that such streamers existed and that it was his first time to hear about them.

"Patitingnan namin (We will look into it). We don't know who is behind this. We will have to verify and evaluate it first," he said in a phone interview.

Fernando said the MMDA?s permission should have been sought if the streamers were installed on the pedestrian overpasses.

The streamers, however, were already the second of a series. The previous ones had the message "No, we are not sorry for Edsa 2" and the image of Aquino morphing into deposed president Joseph Estrada.

The first streamers appeared after Aquino apologized to Estrada for supporting Edsa 2.

Binay claimed the MMDA's inaction bolstered observations that the administration was behind the printing and installation of the posters.

"President Aquino is an icon of freedom. Clearly the intention was to smear the image of the former president," he said in a statement.

Aquino previously supported Arroyo but later led calls for her resignation after the release of purportedly wiretapped conversations between the President and an election official discussing ways to ensure her victory in the polls.

Binay said he thought it was unfair that the MMDA only protected the tarpaulins of its chairman, whose own posters have been criticized for supposed electioneering.

"But it seems that posters maligning opponents of Mrs. Arroyo are spared by the MMDA, this time in order to provide more exposure for a clear attack on an opponent of the present Palace occupant," he said.