The winning combination for Grand Lotto 6/55 on its Saturday evening, Oct. 1 draw was not impossible to predict, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Mel Robles.
"It's not impossible to predict kaya nga po may premyo. That is your prize for being lucky (It's not impossible to predict that is why it has a prize. That is your prize for being lucky)," he said in a press briefing on Sunday, Oct. 2 about the 433 jackpot winners for the said lotto game.
The jackpot amount for the said game is P236,091,188 and the 433 winners will take home over P500,000 each.
"We have found nothing wrong, in fact, it's a natural occurrence na may mga nag-aalaga at maraming nananalo kapag tinamaan 'yun (We have found nothing wrong, in fact, it is a natural occurrence that some are taking care of specific numbers and many win once those numbers get drawn)," Robles added.
On the same day, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III sought an investigation regarding the "suspicious" number of winners for the lotto game.
When asked for a reaction regarding the senator's statement, the agency told Manila Bulletin that, "PCSO welcomes any forms of investigation." Robles then assured the public that there was no anomaly and that not one person involved with the draw knew or leaked the winning combination.
He said that he is "happy" that many bettors hit the jackpot since the Christmas season is almost here.
The popularity of "lucky number nine" also contributed to the big number of winners, he said.
"So far the event last night was just one of the ordinary events except we have a lot of winners," he said.
According to Robles, there is still no need to investigate the staff and people involved with the draw, and he also assured the public that PCSO is truthful with its duties.
"You can count on us that we will adhere to high standards of transparency and fairness," he added.
Robles also said that the PCSO will try to convince the winners to show themselves for an interview to prove the legitimacy of their winning.
"This is very important para makita n'yo naman iyung side ng nanalo (This is very important so that you could see that side of the winners)," he said noting that this is still subject to approval.
He also said that PCSO will try to provide the locations of the 433 winners.
The general manager added that he is optimistic that players will continuously patronize PCSO's lotto games.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/02/433-bettors-hit-grand-lotto-jackpot-prize/