A BETTOR from Cebu was the lone winner of the P239-M jackpot prize of the grand lotto 6/55 draw on Monday, Jan. 21, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PSCSO).
The winning numbers, 17-07-38-08-05-10, won for the bettor P239,204,944.
The bettor bought the ticket from the lotto outlet at the lower ground floor of SM City Cebu, which is operated by Lucky Circle Corp. It will receive a maximum of P1 million as incentive.
It’s not the first time for Lucky Circle Corp. to have issued a winning ticket.
In June 2008, one of the two winners of the P182-million lotto jackpot prize also bought the ticket from the same outlet.
Glen Jesus Rada, the branch manager of the PCSO Cebu Branch, said the chances of winning are slim, especially inside a mall where an estimated 100 people buy tickets daily.
“Daghan ang tawo nga mutaya, especially naa sa mall nga daghan kaayog customers kay accessible ra man kaayo. Naay mag shopping unya pwede ra muhapit para mutaya (There are a lot of people who buy tickets inside malls because it’s accessible. People who go to the mall to shop stop by the ticketing booth to bet),” he said.
As part of its protocol, the PCSO will not announce the winner’s identity and will keep it confidential so as not to expose the person to any harm.
All ticketing outlets, 735 of which are in Metro Cebu, have been instructed to treat the winner’s identity with discretion.
“We keep it confidential to avoid putting the person in harm’s way. It’s the same as when they claim their winnings. They are immediately advised to go directly to the PCSO head office in Manila to present their winning ticket,” Rada said. (USC Interns Von Daniel Plasencia & Jayvee Gulfan)