Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan reported on Tuesday that Lotto had produced 58 millionaires who shared P3,424,842,197 jackpot prize in just 10 months.
Of the 58, 21 millionaires came from Lotto 6/42 who shared P445,081,546; 15 from Mega Lotto 6/45 who shared P502,811,651; nine from Super Lotto 6/49 who shared P519,383,205; eight from Grand Lotto 6/55 who shared P395,471,823; and five from Ultra Lotto 6/58 who shared P1,562,093,972, he said in a press statement.
“The accumulated sales of the agency for Lotto alone is P17,039,845,780. Napakalaking tulong ito sa ating Charity Fund. Kaya I encourage everyone to continue patronizing our products,” said Balutan.
PCSO charter mandates that 55 percent of its revenues should be allocated for prizes, 15 percent for operational expenses, and 30 percent for its charity fund.
Meanwhile, PCSO reiterated the clarification that ‘peryahan ng bayan’ is illegal, adding “Don’t be deceived. Don’t be duped.”
Balutan made the warning regarding the continued illegal operations of the “peryahan ng bayan” by Globaltech Mobile Online Corp.
Balutan stood firm that the peryahan was no longer recognized or authorized by PCSO and thus it was operating illegally.
“We respect the resolution of the Department of Justice on the case filed by the National Bureau of Investigation against the arrested tellers of Globaltech, but we have stood our ground that the peryahan being operated by Globaltech is illegal. It’s a front of illegal numbers game jueteng,” Balutan said.
Balutan said the PCSO, together with law enforcement agencies such as the NBI, would not be deterred by the DoJ’s resolution from implementing crackdowns against peryahan operations nationwide.
On March 2, 2016, PCSO issued a Board Resolution 51, Series of 2016, terminating the Deed of Authority of Globaltech to operate peryahan and on Oct. 13, 2017, the Pasig City Regional Trial Court, Branch 161 denied Globaltech’s motion for issuance of a writ of injunction.
“PCSO revenues have been adversely affected by the continued operation of illegal gambling which unfairly competes with our legal gaming products, particularly the Small Town Lottery, and so the agency has to act by stopping the operations of Globalteach nationwide,” Balutan said.
“We are going all out to stop illegal gambling activities throughout the country, to protect our legal gaming products, particularly the STL,” Balutan added.
Globaltech’s permit was terminated in 2016 due to supposed non-remittance of earnings worth about P100 million.
Last month, the NBI and PCSO representatives raided the office of Globaltech in Quezon City that resulted to the arrest of 57 people involved in the illegal activity.
More operations conducted in Cebu and Mandaue with the arrest of 40 suspects.
All suspects were charged with violating Republic Act 9287 (Act to Increase Penalties Against Illegal Numbers Games).
Some of the suspects were also facing charges for violation of RA 10175 (Cyber Crime Prevention Act).