DAVAO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – President Duterte yesterday told Filipinos not to believe Catholic priests and urged them to join the “Iglesia ni Duterte,” a religion he would establish where there are no prohibitions and no Sunday collections.

Duterte blasted the Catholic Church after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and other churches launched photo exhibits of alleged summary killings under the president’s war on drugs.

The Catholic Church has been critical of Duterte’s drug war, which it says is marked by summary killings and human rights violations.

As millions of Filipinos warmed up to the idea of an “Iglesia ni Duterte,” the CBCP issued a pastoral letter that will be read next Sunday in all churches in the country.

The CBCP appealed to Catholic Filipinos to think twice before joining Duterte’s church.  Its greatest worry is the potential loss of revenue from Sunday collections.

The CBCP is among the biggest investors in the Philippine Stock Exchange.