MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has confirmed that the viral photo of a lotto winner posted on Wednesday was altered, but an official clarified that it was for security purposes.
During the hearing of the Senate committee on ways and means on Thursday, PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles was asked by Senator Raffy Tulfo if it is true that the image of a PCSO official handing a cheque to a supposed lotto winner was edited.
Robles confirmed it, but he clarified that there were incidents in the past where winners were identified by people close to them through their clothing.
鈥淚tong picture na ito very controversial ito sa social media, edited daw ito?鈥� Tulfo asked.
鈥淵es your Honor.聽 We have to protect the identity of the winner. Meron pong nagreklamo sa amin one time; we covered the face, eh 鈥榶ong damit naman po ay nakilala.聽 So nagreklamo siya, sana naman daw po 鈥榳ag ipakita 鈥榶ong damit, so 鈥榶an po ang reason niyan,鈥� Robles replied.
The PCSO General Manager admitted that the way the photo was edited was 鈥減oor.鈥�
鈥淎nd I agree, it鈥檚 a very poor editing, pero the objective is to conceal the clothing na ma-identify sa kanya,鈥� Robles explained.
鈥淪o ibig sabihin inaamin niyo inedit 鈥榯o, pinalitan niyo 鈥榶ong clothing?鈥� Tulfo asked again.
鈥淥po, again, part po 鈥榶an ng pag-conceal kasi na-identify po 鈥榶ong damit, kung at that day 鈥榶ong mga kapit-bahay po eh nag-aano eh, 鈥極y 鈥榶on 鈥榶ong suot niya or kung nakapag-selfie siya,鈥� 鈥榶ong nagreklamo po sa amin favorite clothes daw kasi,鈥� Robles added.
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