PCSO admits editing clothes of lotto winner due to privacy concerns

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has confirmed that the viral photo it posted of a lone bettor who won the jackpot prize of the Lotto 6/42 draw was edited to conceal the person’s identity.

Speaking at a hearing by the Senate ways and means panel on Thursday, the PCSO clarified that the image was altered to hide the clothes worn by the winner when she claimed her prize. The photo, which was posted on PCSO’s official social media channels, has since gone viral, with social media users poking fun at the seemingly unrealistic image of the person.

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PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles said that one previous Lotto winner had complained that they were identified in the PCSO’s photos because of their clothing.
 
“One time, we covered the face, but they were identified through their clothes. The winner then complained to us,” Robles said.

“I agree it’s very poor editing, but the objective is to conceal the clothing that will identify them,” Robles added.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo then asked why it was not enough to simply cover the person’s face.

“For example, what if on that day, their neighbor would notice their clothes? One winner previously complained that they wore their favorite clothes. It’s for the purpose of concealing identity,” Robles said. 

The PCSO official added “If there’s something to apologize for it’s the editing. We’re not very good at editing the clothes.”

When asked by Tulfo whether the winner was a real person, Robles answered in the affirmative.

Tulfo said that doubts have been casted over the real identities of lotto winners.

“There is a clamor to know the truth because many are saying that the person who won the P690 million was not a legit bettor but instead the friend of a person who invested P30 million to win that P690 million,” Tulfo said in a mix of English and Filipino.  

The senator also asked Robles to reveal the identity of the bettor during an executive session – a closed-door meeting used by lawmakers to discuss sensitive issues necessary to be kept from the public.

The bettor in question won the lotto that was drawn on Dec. 28, 2023, earning a prize of P43 million.  

The PCSO said that the winner is a 47-year-old housewife who correctly guessed the winning numbers (18-34-01-11-28-04), which she drew rom her family’s birthdates and two other special numbers, 28 and 34.