BACOOR, Cavite – A man was arrested for tampering with a sweepstake ticket in an attempt to claim a P15,000 prize on Thursday, August 28.
Bacoor City Police Station's report said suspect Diego Lotero took an altered ScratchIt Go Bananas Instant Sweepstakes card to a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Lotto outlet in Barangay Salinas 3.
Upon examining the ticket, however, the Lotto outlet teller realized that numbers cut from another ticket were pasted on the supposed winning card.
She immediately sought help from barangay officials who turned over the suspect to the police.
Upon further investigation, authorities found that Lotero has previously tampered with two sweepstake cards and successfully cashed in a total of P10,000 on April 24 and 25 from the same Lotto outlet.
"Akala niya siguro makakalusot ulit siya. Kasi 'nung una, maganda 'yung pagkaka-paste niya, hindi halata. 'Yung pangatlo, talagang ang pangit na nang pagkakagawa niya (He probably thought he would get away with it again. The first card was made well, the pasted part was not obvious. The third card was made poorly)," Pat. Marco Romero C. Cupo told the Manila Bulletin.
The suspect is currently under police custody and is facing charges of swindling and falsification of documents.