An anonymous lotto bettor forfeited to charity a total P173,918,451.60 after failing to claim the amount as his prize in winning the Super Lotto 6/49 jackpot on February 22, 2009.

Dr. Larry Cedro, spokesman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), said the bettor did not show up to present the winning lotto ticket within a one-year period from the day the six-number combination that hit the jackpot was drawn.

“The money allocated to the second winner of last year’s Superlotto draw has been credited to the Charity Fund of the agency and shall be used to help finance medical assistance of qualified individuals seeking help from the office,” Cedro said.

Don de Leon, chief of staff of PCSO Chairman Sergio Valencia, said the forfeited money represents half of the record P347,836,903.20 jackpot prize that went up for grabs during the February 22, 2009 Superlotto 6/49 draw.

The other half was won and claimed by a 50-year-old Caloocan City housewife who purchased the winning ticket combination of 06-34-20-26-12-33 from the lotto outlet of Alicia Ildefonso on Jose Street, Malibay, Pasay City.

De Leon said the winning ticket that never surfaced since the draw date was sold by Jocelyn Federico who operates an outlet on Guillermo Avenue, Buting, Pasig City.

Despite the non-appearance of the jackpot winner, Federico did not forfeit her commission.

De Leon said Federico and Ildefonso may have won an estimated P500,000 in agent’s commission.

“We’re very sorry for the other jackpot prize winner but he or she can get consolation to the fact that the money will help thousands of indigent Filipinos who are in dire need of cash for medical assistance. Maraming buhay ang madudugtungan ng pinanalo niya,” the young PCSO executive stated. (“The cash reward will save many lives.”)

Last year’s P347.8-million jackpot was the highest cash prize recorded in the nine-year lottery history in the Philippines.

De Leon said it took 21 draws that started December 28, 2008 before the two winners hit the winning six-number combination.

The February 22 draw also recorded the highest three-betting day sales that totaled P331,613,500, the PCSO official added.

The PCSO runs at least nine lotto-based numbers games that have vastly contributed in financing the agency’s charity projects for indigent Filipinos.

“The PCSO sustains free medical and health services to the poorest Filipinos who could not afford hospitalization and other medical expenses. We also contribute to various institutions and organizations, including local government units, that render free or low cost health services to the public,” De Leon said.