Batangas trader claims P134-million Grand Lotto pot

MANILA, Philippines - A businessman from Batangas went home with more than P134.6 million recently, being the first winner of the jackpot in the Grand Lotto.

The 56-year-old married trader claimed his winnings on May 14 or two days after the draw, said Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office spokesman Larry Cedro.

Cedro said the winner placed bets worth P120 for the winning combination of 45-27-29-12-39-31.

According to Cedro, the winner has expressed his intent to put part of the winnings in the bank and use some of it as additional capital in his business.

“The lucky bettor is our first ever winner in our 6/55 Grand Lotto,” Cedro said in an interview.

Launched last April, the Grand Lotto replaced the Power Lotto because of an increase in requests for medical assistance from indigent patients.

The new game, which targets bettors from all social status, is different from the Power Lotto, which was aimed at those from classes A and B.

The 6/55 Grand Lotto game uses a single panel system, which means a bettor only has to choose six numbers in any order for a combination.

This is unlike the two-panel system for the Power Lotto, which had a panel of five chosen numbers and another with just one number out of 0 to 9, and appeared to have been “unfamiliar” to bettors.

According to Cedro, the lucky bettor placed his bets based on a combination that he had been maintaining.

The winner, who has a child, has been placing bets in the lotto since 1995, Cedro said. It was the first time he hit the jackpot.