Execs with access to ‘root server’ may manipulate lottery system — PCSO

PCSO – Information Technology Services Department officer-in-charge manager May Cerelles during the hearing of the Senate committee on ways and means and committee on games and amusement on January 25, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Senate of the Philippine’s YouTube page.)

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) executives who have access to the lottery system’s “root server” may manipulate a bettor’s number and match it to the winning combination, one of the corporation’s officials said on Thursday.

PCSO – Information Technology Services Department officer-in-charge manager May Cerelles told Senator Raffy Tulfo that this is “possible” when the latter raised this theory, which he said came from technology experts.

“Halimbawa nalang nag sabuwatan lahat […] papalitan natin ito [number] through the root access, palabasin natin na may nanalo. Hindi nyo ginagawa yon, wala akong binibintang, possible or not?” Tulfo asked during the upper chamber’s committee on ways and means and the committee on games and amusement hearing.

(For example: those with access conspired to change the number through the root access and make it look like someone won. I know you’re not doing it, but is it possible?)

“Possible po,” Cerelles answered.

The PCSO official said that only two people can access the main computer system with the “root server” — the corporation’s general manager, Melquiades Robles, and assistant general manager, Arnel Casas.

Aside from the two officials, Cerelles disclosed that a team from the Commission on Audit (COA) is present while PCSO officials match bettors’ numbers to the drawn combination.

To clear doubts surrounding the lotto jackpot winners, Tulfo likewise asked PCSO for a copy of the CCTV within the area where the root server may be accessed and where the matching procedure is done.

Amid allegations of “highly improbable and doubtful winnings” in the state lottery, the corporation admitted last hearing that the viral photo of the lotto winner was edited for security reasons before it was posted on social media.

Tulfo also lashed out at PCSO for implementing its digital betting platform without getting approval from the Office of the President.