Lotto winner vows aid for the blind

A Catholic devotee who has been helping a group of blind beggars in his hometown in Cavite province plans to share his winnings with them as well as with his parish after hitting the P12.6-million jackpot in the Aug. 21 6/42 lotto draw.

A 42-year-old real estate agent went to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) headquarters in Pasay City on Tuesday to claim his prize.

“I’m just giving back God’s blessings to the needy and poor,” the winner told PCSO General Manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, who handed him the check.

The man, who had been betting on the state lottery for the last 17 years, picked the winning combination—24-17-18-33-35-04—based on the birthdays of his wife and three children, according to PCSO media officer Joseph Muego.

Muego said the winner disclosed plans to donate a portion of the money to the church and the visually impaired.

“He said he noticed a group of 10 blind people outside the church begging for alms. But instead of giving them money, he gives them canned goods, rice and bread every time he goes to church,” Muego said.