No retirement pay? No worries, says ex-gov’t man who wins P19-M jackpot

Even without his retirement pay, a 63-year-old former government employee now has more than enough to ensure a comfortable lifestyle after he hit the jackpot in last week’s MegaLotto 6/45 draw.

The lucky ex-government worker claimed on Friday half of the P19.97 million prize.

He and another bettor had picked the winning number combination of 08-13-23-32-26-41 which was drawn on Wednesday night, according to Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

“I did not expect that the lottery would give me my retirement pay,” Rojas quoted the winner as saying when the latter went to the PCSO office to claim his share of the jackpot prize.

Rojas said that the winner left the government service two years ago although he has yet to receive his separation pay as the agency he used to serve does not have enough funds.

The man told Rojas that he would split the money among his four children and set aside a little amount for his own needs.

A regular bettor since 1995, the winner said he used the system 7 scheme in picking the winning number combination.

The other winner has yet to claim his share of the jackpot, Rojas said.  Based on PCSO records, the ticket holder placed

a bet at an outlet in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

In a related development, Rojas said the top prize for the Grand Lotto 6/55 game was expected to reach P150 million after bettors missed Saturday’s winning combination of 11-16-24-25-26-52.

Thirty-one bettors, however, picked five of the six winning numbers, he added.