Sen. Raffy Tulfo during a Senate hearing Senate PRIB photo / Bibo Nueva España
MANILA, Philippines – Another irregularity has sprang out of lotto draws, Senator Raffy Tulfo claimed on Tuesday, adding that this time it may have been hiding in the form of a lone bettor who allegedly won the games multiple times in a single month.
Tulfo, who is also leading the upper chamber’s probe on the controversies hounding Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) lotto games, said public trust on the agency has further suffered following the “minor glitch” on its three-digit game draw on February 27.
“Based on the submission given to us after our issuance of a subpoena to PCSO, there are some questionable matters concerning lotto games and lotto winners,” Tulfo disclosed in a statement.
He did not categorically state what all these “questionable matters” are, but he did insinuate that this involved an instance where a single bettor won multiple times in a single month.
“While there are already initial findings where the same person wins multiple times in a single month, we are still studying the documents further and will divulge all information not protected by data privacy laws on the scheduled hearing of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement next Monday, March 18, 2024,” said Tulfo.
As for the glitch, PCSO already assured the public that “it was not the first time” that it happened and that they are “prepared for this kind of unexpected incident.”
“In the past 25 years, this was only the second time that a minor glitch had happened at PCSO while conducting an official draw. For this thing to happen is very remote. But we are prepared and we assure the public that our commitment to a transparent, fair and authentic lottery games will never waver, and is as strong as ever,” said PCSO General Manager Mel Robles.