Pampanga Recycling Firm Opens Doors for Inspection, Denies POGO Ties

A prominent recycling company based in Mexico, Pampanga, has welcomed legislators to inspect its facilities to dispel allegations of involvement with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

In a statement, Infinity Eight Trading and Marketing Corp.’s legal counsel, Stephen Jaromay, affirmed the company’s support for Congress’s efforts to shut down POGOs and combat illegal drug activities. Jaromay recently accompanied a delegation of lawmakers, led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, to clarify the nature of the company’s operations and to express their backing for Congress’s anti-POGO and anti-drug initiatives.

“We likewise welcome the opportunity to clarify any misconceptions or misunderstandings about the nature of Infinity Eight’s operations,” Jaromay said.

Company Background and Relocation

Infinity Eight initially operated in Plastic City, Valenzuela. However, following severe damage to their equipment caused by Typhoon Carina and chronic flooding in Valenzuela, the company relocated its main operations to Mexico, Pampanga. Jaromay highlighted that the new facility houses all major components of their operations, including junk reception and processing, recycling facilities, and the company headquarters.

Established three decades ago in Valenzuela City, Infinity Eight has been at the forefront of technological advancements in processing scrap materials for recycling, including carton, plastics, and steel. The company processes over 3,000 tons of PET bottles and recycles more than 1,000 tons of Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) plastic pellets monthly.

Legislative Inspections

Legislators had previously inspected other sites, including the Zun Yuan POGO facilities in Bamban, Tarlac, and the Lucky South 99 site in Porac, Pampanga. They also visited the Empire 999 Realty Corp. warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga, where law enforcement authorities seized 3.6 billion pesos worth of shabu last year.

House Speaker Romualdez emphasized that these site visits enable legislators to understand the operations of POGO and drug syndicates better, helping them take necessary actions to hold these entities accountable.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced a ban on POGOs during his State of the Nation Address last month, reinforcing the government’s stance against such operations.