Prelate warns lotto winner of bad luck

MANILA, Nov. 30, 2010—Easy come, easy go.

This was the warning made by an anti-gambling prelate to the lone winner of the 741-million jackpot winner of the Grand Lotto 6/55 draw on Monday.

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz warned that easy money have devastating consequences that the lotto winner and his or her family will have to bear with.

In the first place, he said, the hefty money belongs to millions of Filipinos and easy money comes with management problem.

According to Cruz, hard work will build the future step by step, and grow normally. Those who won in gambling, he added, have the tendency not to control their spending.

“I feel pity on him. He should be very careful because of the money he has… it came from a lot of people,” said Cruz. “The money he has is not really his or her own because he did not seat for it.”

The prelate also said security will be another major concern for the lotto winner and his family because “many will try to frighten them and kidnap them for the money.”

Another thing, he added, is that the winner will have a “lot of enemies” especially those whom he was not able to give any tip.

“In short, the winner will lose because of these problems,” Cruz added.

“It’s best for the person and his or her family to hide and go abroad rather than staying here and be identified,” he said.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said one bettor from northern Luzon won the biggest jackpot ever in the country’s lottery history, winning some P741.176 million.

Margarita Juico, PCSO chair, said the winning bet for the grand lotto draw was placed in Olongapo City in Zambales province. (CBCPNews)