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'We do not accept any investment': PCSO responds to senator's comment regarding P600-M jackpot winner who placed P90-M bet
'We do not accept any investment': PCSO responds to senator's comment regarding P600-M jackpot winner who placed P90-M bet
By Sonny Daanoy
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) clarified on Wednesday, March 20, that there were no "investments" involved in any of its lotto games.
"For the record, we do not accept any investment; that is wrong, very, very wrong," PCSO General Manager Mel Robles said in a mix of English and Filipino during the “Kapihan sa Manila Hotel” forum.
"We only accept bets," he added.
Senator Raffy Tulfo made the statement on March 18, where he called the attention of the agency over the case of an individual who won P600 million in a lotto game after betting P90 million or P30 million each at three lotto outlets.
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Tulfo emphasized his concern regarding the "investment" made during the time the jackpot prize was raised from P500 million to over P600 million.
However, Robles pointed out that "if" the agency could "rig" the game, it would only cost P20 and not P90 million.
"Again, if we can rig the game, it will only take P20 to win, not P90 million," he explained.
PCSO welcomes vigilance
Furthermore, Robles noted that the agency appreciates vigilance. However, he appealed that it should be "factual."
"The concept of vigilance is good, we always welcome that, it's really necessary, we don't take offense to it," he said.
"We welcome this because it's the mandate of Congress to oversee. We always prepare for that because vigilance is appreciated," Robles added.
"However, it should be factual," he stressed.
Furthermore, the PCSO general manager also clarified that incidents of claimants winning multiple times in a month mostly occur in provinces.
He said that since prizes of P10,000 and above must be claimed at PCSO offices, and because these offices are often far away, winners typically assign someone to claim the prize on their behalf instead of claiming it physically.
"Whoever holds that (lotto ticket), you can exchange it because it doesn't bear any information, no name, no address," Robles said.
In addition, Robles explained that it is possible for multiple winners but just for those small tier lotto games.
"I said that there are really winners, but they are in the small tier only, because we have many games like 2D, 3D, 4D, and 6D,” Robles said.
"I understand that some lawmakers are being misinformed, but there should be clarification. If there really isn't any, give them (PCSO) the opportunity to say that they didn't find anything,” he added.