The church is holding us back, says Aron.
They won't give out charity.
They pontificate.
And ignore the pleas of the poor.
But they hold large political sway.
The congregation always listens to the pastor.
'Nothing but a bunch of fucking thieves,' Duterte says.
Thieves with political sway.
I poked my head into Manila's Cathedral.
Large plasma televisions were hanging from the roof. A white priest in a white frock, with a white bishop's hat, was telling his congregation to rejoice in poverty.
'God has reserved a place for the meek.'
Had I just entered a giant jumbo jet?
Aron has been escorted by security guards on his port of leave in Venezuela.
'Kidnappings were rife,' he says.
He draws a similar parallel to the Philipines.
'We may have all the saints, but they aren't going to save you from a kidnapping or getting your head chopped off.'
Sending heads to your enemy was always a popular choice by the mafia of Mexico, I said.
The church holds us ransom and we hold the people ransom, says Aron.
I can see why Duterte loathes the crooks.
'The Vatican is the richest country in the world,' says Aron, 'and our country is one of the poorest.'
It's not hard to figure out why.
Vote with your feet, I say, and stop putting your coins in the collection box at the churches.
Hit them where it hurts the most, in their fucking hip pockets.
