Pateros bettor wins P25-million lotto jackpot 

A bettor in Metro Manila became an instant millionaire after guessing the right six-digit combination of the Lotto 6/42 draw on Tuesday night, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

In an advisory Wednesday, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said the bettor guessed the winning combination of 31-41-29-25-20-08, which carried a total jackpot prize of PHP25,490,659.

The ticket was purchased in the municipality of Pateros.

It was the seventh time for the month of January that the jackpot was hit by a lone bettor while another was shared by two bettors.

The bettor can claim the check at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City upon presentation of the winning ticket and two identification cards.

Lotto winnings of more than PHP10,000 shall be subject to a 20 percent tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Prizes not claimed within a year shall be forfeited.

The 6/42 Lotto is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday

Meanwhile, PCSO general manager Melquiades Robles on Monday turned over checks amounting to over PHP96.9 million to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and Philippine Air Force (PAF) for their mandatory contribution held at the PCSO Executive Office in Mandaluyong City.

The PCSO turned over its mandatory contribution worth PHP31.1 million to CHED as its mandatory contribution for the strengthening of higher learning institutions pursuant to Republic Act 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994 while the PAF received PHP63.6 million and PSC received PHP136,371.09.

Robles urged the public to keep on patronizing PCSO games to generate more funds for health programs, medical assistance and services and charities.

The PCSO is mandated to set aside 30 percent of its revenue for charity, 55 percent for prizes, and 15 percent for its operation. All balances of any funds in the PCSO will form part of the charity fund.