INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
One of the two Ultra Lotto 6/58 jackpot winners has claimed his half of the P1 billion prize this week, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said on Friday.
But the country’s newest multi-millionaire was so poor, he had to borrow money just to get himself from Samar to the PCSO office in Mandaluyong City to collect his winnings which amounted to P472 million, 20 percent prize tax excluded.
PCSO Assitant General Manager for Gaming Sector Arnel Casas said the jackpot winner, a middle-aged man, went to the PCSO main office last Tuesday to claim his prize.
Casas said the lucky bettor “came from the masses.
“Ito po ang status niya, middle-aged, may pamilya at galing po siya sa masa. Balita ho namin, inutang nya pa ‘yung pamasahe nya para makapunta rito,” Casas said in an interview over DZMM.
(He is of middle age, he has a family, and he comes from the masses. We have learned that he even borrowed money for his trip to Manila)
“Ngayon marami na ho siyang dalang biyaya para mabayaran nya yung kanyang pinagkautangan,” he added.
(He now has money to pay all his debts)
Casas said the other jackpot winner still has 360 days to claim prize. /muf