MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang criticized on Sunday the presidential bid of Sen. Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III, saying the neophyte senator was merely running on a ?platform of hate? directed against President Macapagal-Arroyo.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde cried foul over the allegation made by Aquino and running-mate Sen. Mar Roxas that the Arroyo administration was corrupt and had no lasting solution to the country?s problems.

?That?s unfair but we understand (their comments) because Sen. Noynoy is running under a platform of hate against President Macapagal-Arroyo,? he said in the weekly Palace media forum aired over the government-run Radyo ng Bayan.

?Because he wants to replace the President, we expect him to always criticize her hoping that in doing so, he would get the votes of the Filipino people,? he said.

The Palace earlier questioned Aquino?s ability to serve as president, saying he should first ?be your own man.?

The statement was apparently made in reference to Aquino?s sudden rise to political prominence following the death of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino.

Malacañang has also occasionally belittled the younger Aquino?s ability to run the country amid questions about his educational attainment and accomplishments as a lawmaker.

Shortly before filing his certificate of candidacy (CoC) last Saturday, Aquino told a crowd near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila that he would bring back integrity, humility and trustworthiness in public leadership in case he won the presidency.

Aquino, 51, the frontrunner to succeed President Arroyo, surged from nowhere to the top of the opinion polls after his mother died in early August after a battle with cancer.

An October survey by the Pulse Asia polling firm found Aquino with 44 percent support, with rivals Sen. Manuel Villar with 19 percent, and ex-defense chief Gilbert Teodoro, Ms Arroyo?s preferred successor, with 2 percent.

The Liberal Party team, with Aquino, Sen. Mar Roxas and seven LP senatorial candidates chose to file their CoCs on Nov. 28, the day after the birthday of Aquino?s father, martyred opposition leader Benigno ?Ninoy? Aquino Jr.

Aquino started the day by laying a wreath at the Ninoy Aquino statue in a park across the Manila Hotel.

The LP team attended Mass at the Manila Cathedral which was followed by a short proclamation rally on a makeshift stage nearby.

Afterwards, Aquino, Roxas and the seven senatorial candidates were escorted to the Comelec offices by a noisy throng of supporters.

At the rally, Aquino and Roxas said they wanted to effect ?transformational change? in the national leadership. They called the current government corrupt and said it offered no lasting solution to the country?s problems.

Aquino said that after his mother died on Aug. 1, he was troubled.

?How do we bring back light to our country?? he asked himself.

He said that the day he was filing his candidacy ?may be the first step in the last episode of [finally achieving] what we?re fighting for.?

Aquino vowed to bring reforms in the government by embodying the quality of integrity, humility and trustworthiness in public leadership.

He said he would continue his parents? legacy of change through democratic means.

He vowed to eradicate corruption and bring peace and prosperity to all Filipinos.

Roxas considered Aquino the only presidential aspirant who was not tainted by the Arroyo administration.

While other parties claim to be running on the promise of reforms, only the LP has taken a consistently critical stance against the administration, he said.

?All the opponents of Sen. Noynoy claim that they are reformists. I can only say this: Sen. Noynoy has no contracts with the government. He did not gain anything from his position as a government official,? Roxas said.

Aquino said he considered his rivals as of the same breed.

?They all want to continue fooling and cheating the people,? he said.