Two bettors—one from Cebu City and another from Cubao, Quezon City—shared the P82 million Lotto 6/42 jackpot drawn on April 18, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced on Tuesday, June 6.
The bettors guessed the winning combination 42-21-01-36-23-37, which carried a total prize of P82,139,803.60.
The lucky lottery winner from Cebu City purchased his P40 ticket from a lotto outlet near the Cebu South Bus Station.
He had been playing the lottery on a regular basis for nearly 30 years.
(PCSO)
"May mga pagkakataong tumatama ako pero three to four digits lang. Noon pa man naniniwala na talaga ako na totoo po ang lotto at bukod doon alam ko rin po na sa charity napupunta ang parte ng nagiging benta nila. (I sometimes get the numbers, but only the first three or four digits. I've always believed that the lottery is real and besides that I also know that a portion of it goes to charity),” he said in Filipino on PCSO interview.
“Sa mga patuloy na tumataya, wag po tayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Ibibigay po ni Lord kung para sa atin talaga. (For those who are still struggling, let's not lose hope. God will give us what we need),” he added.
He went on to say that his winnings would be used to fund investments and start-up businesses.
The other winner, a 46-year-old mother from Quezon City, has been playing occasionally for the past 10 years.
(PCSO)
PCSO said that she was still unsure of what she would do with the large sum of money.
However, she wants to save money and make the most of it since she sees it as a gift from God.
She also encouraged other lotto fans to keep playing.
"Payo ko po sa mga kagaya kong tumatangkilik sa mga palaro ng PCSO ay patuloy lang po tayo sa paglalaro ng lotto dahil may pag-asang maging milyonaryo at malaki po ang naitutulong natin sa ating mga kababayang may sakit. (I want to encourage people like me to keep playing the lottery because we have a chance of becoming rich and can help others who are sick).
The lucky winners claimed their prizes at the PCSO Main Office in Mandaluyong City on May 8 and 9.
According to Republic Act No. 1169, the winners have one year from the date of the draw to claim their prizes.
If the prize is not claimed, it will be forfeited and donated to the PCSO Charity Fund.
In accordance with TRAIN law, the general public is reminded that prizes valued at more than P10 million are subject to a final tax of 20 percent.
Furthermore, jackpot winners must bring two forms of acceptable identification to the PCSO Main Office, where they must also write their names and sign the back of their winning tickets.
Only then will they be able to collect their winnings. (Rhowen Del Rosario)