Winner of P741.176-M lotto jackpot - placed bet in Olongapo City

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/207162/finally-lone-winner-gets-p741176-m-lotto-jackpot

Weeks of suspense finally came to an end Monday night as a lone lucky bettor from Luzon managed to crack the biggest jackpot in the country’s lottery history, winning some P741.176 million.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairwoman Margarito Juico on Tuesday said the winning bet for the 6/55 Grand Lotto was placed in Olongapo City in Zambales province in Central Luzon.

“Ang alam lang namin tumaya siya sa pamamagitan ng Lucky Pick doon sa Olongapo City. Taga-roon siya o tumaya lang doon (What we know is that the winner either resides in Olongapo City or placed his or her bet using the Lucky Pick method in an Olongapo City lotto outlet)," Juico said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Earlier, PCSO assistant general manager for online lottery Liza Gabuyo said the winner will be P741,176,323.20 richer, for getting the winning combination: 11-16-42-47-31-37.

Juico said the winner should sign his or her name at the back of the ticket before going to the PCSO office at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

She said the winner can then bring the ticket to the treasury section of the PCSO at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City.

If the winner is afraid of going there personally, he or she can have a lawyer with a special power of attorney represent him or her.

She said the winner can also opt to deposit the check immediately at a Land Bank of the Philippines branch inside the PCSO.

Juico said the PCSO will not advise the winner what to do with his or her winnings.

“Basta pagbigay namin ng tseke sila ang bahala ... ayaw namin lumabas na parang nagkainterest sa kanyang premyo (Once we turn over the check our job is done. We do not want to make it appear we are interested in a share of the winnings)," she said.

Filipino bettors – including lawmakers and Palace officials – had bought tickets in past weeks for a shot at becoming instant millionaires.

The betting had raised concerns from Catholic Church officials, who said the lotto fever may promote dependence on luck instead of hard work.

Juico said PCSO ticket sales for the Grand Lotto draw reached P266 million as of Monday night alone.

She said that while Grand Lotto started last May, sales only picked up in November when the jackpot reached P300 million.

“Nag-pick up ito noong November na, umabot ng P300 million doon nag-pick up, maraming tumaya (Sales picked up in November when the jackpot reached P300 million)," she said. — LBG, GMANews.TV