Vlogger Dr. Richard Mata added as PDP Laban's 10th Senate bet

Pediatrician and content creator Richard Mata has been officially included in the senatorial slate of Duterte-backed Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) for the May 2025 midterm elections.

According to PDP Laban, Mata has been adopted as the 10th senatorial candidate of the political party chaired by former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Netherlands.

The doctor-vlogger, who is also known as “Doc Marites” on social media, is pushing for healthcare reform, regulation of online gambling, protection of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) funds, and the protection of freedom of speech of netizens and influencers, among others.

During the PDP Laban's proclamation rally in February, nine senatorial candidates were fielded, namely: Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, lawyer-singer Jimmy Bondoc, lawyer Raul Lambino, actor Philip Salvador, lawyer Jayvee Hinlo, Sagip party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta, detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy, and former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez.

PDP-Laban president and incumbent Senator Robin Padilla on Sunday said that the party now has 10 official candidates dubbed as “DuterTEN.”

“Ang inyong panglabing isa at dalawa [na kandidato]…bahala na po kayo sa inyong personal na kagustuhan,” Padilla said in a Facebook post.

(It’s up to you to decide on who to vote for as your 11th and 12th candidate.)

Aside from the 10 senatorial bets, Padilla said he is also personally endorsing presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos and former senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan II.

He, however, clarified that Imee Marcos and Honasan received no formal endorsement from Duterte.

“Tulad ng DUTERTEN, silang 2 ay tapat sa Bayan at hindi nagbabago yun maging sino man ang nakaupong Pangulo,” Padilla said.

(Like the DuterTEN, both of them are loyal to the people and that does not change no matter who is sitting as President.) —KG, GMA Integrated News

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