MANILA (UPDATED) - Makati City Rep. Abigail Binay won a studio-type condominium unit in Rockwell Land’s The Grove in Pasig City.

A Facebook ad posted on its official account announced that Binay won the unit in the Power Plant Mall’s Christmas Raffle.

Power Plant mall, like The Grove, is a Rockwell land project. Power Plant Mall is located in Makati City.

The ad was posted on this link.

The Facebook page even congratulated Binay.

Rockwell Land told ABS-CBN News that the raffle was legitimate and that Binay indeed won the prize.

Binay is the 85th richest congresswoman based on her 2012 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth filed with the House of Representatives with a net worth of P41,204,687.39.

Binay confirmed winning the raffle, “Hi RG, yes I won the raffle in the Power Plant Mall."

VALID RAFFLE?

Meanwhile, netizens reacted to the post, with some posting comments questioning the validity of the raffle.

Binay, however, said, “as far as I know, the draw was done in the mall and was open to the public. There are several witnesses present and I think the Power Plant Mall admin are in a better position to answer that issue.”

In a subsequent interview, Binay gave more details about her winning.

“They called me last Saturday to confirm. Parang live pa nga nung tinatawagan nila ako, akala ko prank call, feeling ko di totoo, Out of how many that joined the raffle, ako naman walang expectation sa ganun eh," she said.

Binay explained the raffle is done annually. “Power Plant, every year may raffle every Christmas, it's part of their promotion, if you have a receipt [minimum of] P2,500, you get 1 raffle ticket. Sumali ako."

Binay added, “If it was another person, you won’t even think it was rigged. Kahit ako, nagulat talaga, di ko iniexpect. Di ko pa ho natatanggap na ako nanalo. Kung magririg ako, sana lotto na mas malaki o kaya kotse. Pure chance."

Binay said she has yet to take possession of the 32-square-meter condo, which will be in Tower C of The Grove Rockwell. It is valued by the developer at P5 million.

“They gave me a key yesterday. The condo isn’t ready till May 2015. I still have to pay a gift tax. Wala pang susi. The gift tax would be P800,000," she said.

Binay said she still has no plans on what to do with her prize.

"I just found out nung Saturday. Too early, wala pang plano. Studio unit lang di naman siya," Binay said. "Chances are doon ako bumibili ng regalo para sa anak ko.”

Binay said she has yet to inform her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, of her winning.

'NOTHING WRONG'

Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and House Ethics Committee Chair Joaquin Chipeco both saw nothing wrong with Binay winning the condo.

Gonzales, in a text message said, “nothing is wrong about it. Raffle promos are not considered gambling."

Chipeco said, “Alam ko doon sa The Grove as long as you buy something in a certain mall, you’re given a raffle, may rules iyon. So eh kung siya nanalo, I do not see anything wrong with that. In fact, to be honest I was able to get one coupon because I bought something there and because of amount, I got a coupon. Everybody is entitled as long as you pay so much. This is something that’s open to everybody. Anybody who buys, so long as you pay the amount na nakalagay sa kanilang rules. In our rules, there is no limit. What’s prohibited is to receive a gift in the performance of your office.”

Chipeco said he is not aware of any rule prohibiting them from joining raffles. “I don’t think it's gambling. Game of chance. You get a ticket, so long as you comply with the amount. Swerte lang siya. Nakaswerte lang."

Chipeco said if there are complaints filed in connection to this, they will hear it.