A man was arrested after allegedly presenting a falsified lottery ticket in an attempt to claim a P172-million jackpot prize at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in Mandaluyong City, police said.

According to a report by RH Jecelle Ricafort, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the suspect went to the PCSO office in Barangay Wack-Wack and submitted what he claimed was a winning ticket.

However, verification through the official lotto database showed that the legitimate winner had already claimed the jackpot prize corresponding to the ticket’s number combination.

Further examination of the ticket revealed clear signs of tampering, including handwritten entries made using a ballpen, authorities said.

The suspect was immediately arrested, placed in handcuffs, and taken for medical examination before being turned over to investigators for case buildup.

He is set to undergo inquest proceedings before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office and will face charges of falsification of a public document.

NCRPO Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said the arrest highlights the effectiveness of the Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO), which enables authorities to swiftly detect and prevent fraudulent and illegal activities.