Vice President Sara Duterte apparently took a jab at the Marcos administration when she talked about People Power and massive corruption during a speech with her fellow Mindanaoans.

At the conference of the Association of Local Government Accountants Incorporated, she attended on Wednesday, Feb. 25, which coincided with the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, in Mindanao, Duterte emphasized that it was only right for Filipinos to be demanding and to know where their money is spent, especially when no progress is felt.

"Filipinos are rightly demanding to know where your money went while they lose their homes and livelihoods to every storm," Duterte, who herself is yet to answer where her controversial funds also went, said.

"When budgets are bloated, but no tangible progress is felt, that is not a technical error. That is a failure of integrity in the budget process," she added as the Marcos administration is yet to solve the massive corruption from the anomalous flood control projects that continue to hound the nation.

Before this, the Vice President recalled the events during President Marcos' father's imposed Martial Law that eventually led to the revolt of the people.

She said, 40 years ago, "unarmed Filipinos faced tanks with nothing but courage in their hearts" on the streets of EDSA. She was referring to EDSA People Power.

"They stood for one thing, accountability," she added.

Duterte said the accountants and the finance officers she was talking to were gathered under a theme of "leave, grow, excel." And in time of rising public desperation, when people are betrayed "by the very inaction and indifference ofgovernment institutions," the theme of their event "is not mere words or decorations" but it questions what they stand for.

"To our accountants and finance officers, you are the unseen guardians of public trust," she said. "When the numbers do not add up, courage means saying no, even when it is uncomfortable, even when it is low."

Duterte said that Feb. 25, 1986, has taught Filipinos that change does not always begin in the halls of authority, but it begins with conscience.

"We must always lead with principle, grow with integrity, and excel not by compliance alone but with courage in our hearts," she said.

Duterte stressed that "accountability is a lonely road," which is why many just choose to become silent.

"And in the Philippines, it is a lonely road to nowhere. To stand firm in the face of threats, harassment, and bribery requires courage," she said. "But remember, when you feel lonely, every time you uphold what is right, you honor the spirit of people power."

"Forty years later, we are in this hall. The call is the same. Serve with integrity, protect the public trust," she added.