Bishop to Grand Lotto winner: Go hide abroad

After winning P741 million, the Filipino who hit the jackpot in Monday night's Grand Lotto draw may want to flee and hide abroad, at least for now. This was the advice given Tuesday by a Catholic Church official, who warned the winner will face big financial and security problems. “It’s best for the person and his or her family to hide and go abroad rather than staying here and be identified," retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said in an article posted Tuesday night on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. Cruz said the winner will have to cope with managing such a huge amount, and deal with disgruntled "friends and relatives" who may not get a share of the money. He pointed out winning easy money may have devastating consequences that the winner and his or her family will have to bear with.

In the first place, Cruz said the hefty sum - which came from the pockets of millions of Filipinos - will bring with it management problems. Cruz said unlike people who engage in hard work to build their futures step by step, those who won in gambling tend to lack control over their spending. “I feel pity on him (or her). He (or she) should be very careful because of the money he (or she) has," he said. The prelate also said security will be another major concern for the lotto winner and his or her family because “many will try to frighten them and kidnap them for the money." Also, Cruz said the winner will have a “lot of enemies" especially those whom he or she was not able to give any tip. “In short, the winner will lose because of these problems," he said. - KBK, GMANews.TV