Palace stands by PCSO amid lotto rigging allegation
Photo from Filipino Patriotism Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines—There is no reason to doubt the integrity of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) following the allegations that last Monday’s 6/55 Grand Lotto draw was rigged, Malacañang said Saturday.
Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on radio that the lottery is televised to ensure that no anomaly happens during the draw.
“You know, sumagot si GM Rojas ng PCSO dito and sabi niya, precisely because large amount of money [is] involved kaya nga po televised ‘yung pagbola. Televised po ‘yan sa PTV 4 at nandiyan po ‘yung mga representatives, may mga witnesses, and you know, precisely, so people can see that the drawing and the winners are all above board,” she said in a radio interview.
(You know, PCSO General Manager Rojas has already addressed this and said that the draw is televised on PTV 4 with the presence of the representatives and witnesses, so people can see that the drawing and the winners are all above board.)
Valte said Malacañang has no reason to summon PCSO General Manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas or any official citing there is no valid reason to do it.
“At this point, perhaps, there’s no reason to do that considering that the draws themselves are televised each and every time. ‘Yon nga po ‘yung ginawa nilang safeguard para maipakita po sa publiko na maayos po at wala hong nangyayaring kalokohan sa likod nu’ng lotto draw,” she added.
(At this point, perhaps, there is no reason to do that considering that the draws themselves are televised each and every time. This is the safeguard they are doing to show the public that no anomaly is happening.)
On Monday night, a 59-year-old female office worker from Muntinlupa who bought her ticket in Makati City won the P249.8 million jackpot prize in the 6/55 Grand Lotto draw of the PCSO.
Netizens, however, were quick to say that a ghost winner won the said jackpot prize after an alleged photo of the draw results showing zero winners for the jackpot circulated online.
Many netizens expressed disbelief and said the “scam” has long been going on but the PCSO denied the allegations and tagged it as “malicious.”
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