PH can set Guinness record for most number of lotto winners, says Imee Macos

Senator Imee Marcos appeared puzzled on the increasing number of lotto winners, saying it could set a Guinness world record.

"Kailangan malaman ng Guinness ito, sobrang galing eh.  Tayo na yata ang may pinakamaraming nanalo sa loob ng isang taon," Marcos said.

(The Guinness World Record should know this.  It looks too good. We may be the country with the most number of lotto winners in a year.)

The senator said the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced in October 2023 that 433 individuals won the P236 million 6/55 lottery.

"Now, we have winners almost every day," she said.

“Di mo malaman kung matatawa ka, maiinis o matatakot (You don't know if this will make you laugh, annoyed or scared)," she added.

The PCSO is in hot waters after an edited photo of a Lotto 6/42 jackpot winner went viral. 

PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles on Thursday confirmed the photo was edited to protect the bettor’s identity.

The said photo from the PCSO shows the winner from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan who claimed the Lotto 6/42 jackpot worth P43,882,361.60 at the PCSO main office on December 28, 2023.

In a Senate inquiry, PCSO said it was willing to submit the names of lotto winners in an executive session if subpoenaed.

Apart from the lotto winner, the PCSO announced two lucky bettors will share the Megalotto 6/45 jackpot worth P121.8 million. 

A lone bettor likewise won the P640 million Super Lotto 6/49 jackpot prize, while another lone winner bagged the P690 million jackpot at the Grand Lotto 6/55.

GMA News Online sought the comment of the PCSO and will post its response once available. —LDF, GMA Integrated News