Pay owner of damaged lotto ticket, House asks PCSO

MANILA, Philippines - Pay the owner of the damaged ticket that won P12 million in the lotto draw on Oct. 2, 2014, the House committee on games and amusement asked the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Tuesday.

Committee chairman Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said the committee dismissed PCSO’s decision to deny Antonio Failon Mendoza, 46, of the prize.

“The committee has recommended to the PCSO the payment of the lotto prize… for the PCSO to recognize the winning ticket... and pay the corresponding jackpot immediately,” Barzaga said.

Barzaga said only Mendoza, who obtained a certification that he bought the ticket from a lotto outlet in Calaca, Batangas, came forward to claim the prize.

Mendoza told the House committee that his daughter, ironed the ticket because his granddaughter crumpled it. A few numbers of the six-digit winning combination 40-09-36-31-21-41 were visible. 

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo filed the proposed Lottery Proof of Winnings Act of 2015 to allow the presentation of secondary and other circumstantial evidence as basis for awarding lotto winnings.