Winner of P113-million lotto jackpot loses ticket

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — A man who claimed to have won the jackpot in the 6/45 Mega Lotto drawn on Wednesday has sought police assistance, claiming a teller at a lotto outlet in this city lost his winning ticket.

Joram  Pagaran, 38, a resident of Barangay Soriano, Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte, told police he guessed the winning combination 8-11-25-33-43-45, which had a total jackpot of P113,065,050.

 The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)said a lone bettor won the jackpot in the 6/45 Mega Lotto drawn on July 17.

Pagaran said he went to a lotto outlet along E. Luna street in Barangay Sikatuna at around 9 a.m. on Thursday to verify if his ticket won. He said the lotto machine confirmed that he won the jackpot when his ticket was inserted.

However, Pagaran said the lotto outlet teller denied he received Pagaran’s ticket.

The lotto outlet employee was brought to the police station. She insisted during questioning that she did not get Pagaran’s lotto ticket.

An investigation is ongoing.

The PCSO advises lotto winners to present their winning tickets at its main office in Mandaluyong City.

The ticket should not be damaged or altered and winners should sign at the back to establish ownership, the PCSO said.