Government employee claims P571.5 million lotto jackpot

MANILA, Philippines — Two days after winning the jackpot in the Ultra Lotto 6/58, a government employee from Ligao, Albay claimed her prize at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in Mandaluyong City yesterday.

It was only the second time that the winner, who is a mother of four, had played the state lottery, lawyer Lauro Patiag, PCSO assistant general manager, told a hastily called press conference.

The bettor won P571.5 million after guessing the six-digit combination 19-35-25-42-58-05.

The prize is the biggest lotto jackpot in 2023.

It was learned that the winner was accompanied by her brother when she claimed her prize as she feared for her safety.

She said she bought two tickets at a lotto outlet along Rizal street and used the lucky pick system.

The winner said she tried her luck after the PCSO increased the jackpot of the Ultra Lotto 6/58 and the Grand Lotto 6/55 under its “Handog Pakabog” Christmas lotto promotion campaign.

Under the campaign, the minimum guaranteed jackpots for the Ultra Lotto 6/58,  Grand Lotto 6/55 and Super Lotto 6/49 were all raised to P500 million.

The prizes for Regular Lotto 6/42 and Mega Lotto 6/45 were both raised to P100 million.

The new multimillionaire plans to put part of her winnings into a bank and donate to charity.

Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law, lotto winnings above P10,000 are subject to a 20 percent tax and automaticcally deducted from the total prize.