S.O.C.O.: Scene of the Crime Operatives
Philippine investigative docudrama television program
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S.O.C.O.: Scene of the Crime Operatives (also known as SOCO) is a Philippine investigative docudrama television program broadcast by ABS-CBN and Kapamilya Channel. Hosted by Gus Abelgas, its first iteration aired from November 23, 2005, to October 17, 2020. The program primarily aims to find answers to serious crimes with the help of forensic investigators and the local police.[1][2][3] The program returned on October 24, 2025 on iWant.
| S.O.C.O.: Scene of the Crime Operatives | |
|---|---|
| |
| Genre | Crime Investigative news Docudrama |
| Developed by | ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs |
| Directed by | JV Noriega |
| Presented by | Gus Abelgas |
| Narrated by | Gus Abelgas |
| Country of origin | Philippines |
| Original language | Filipino |
| No. of episodes | 752 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Ferdinand Enriquez |
| Editors |
|
| Production company | ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABS-CBN |
| Release | November 23, 2005 – May 2, 2020 |
| Network | Kapamilya Channel |
| Release | June 13 – October 17, 2020 |
| Release | January 17, 2026 – present |
| Network | iWant |
| Release | October 24, 2025 – present |
| Network | A2Z All TV |
| Release | January 17, 2026 – present |
| Related | |
| Gus Abelgas: Nag-Uulat True Crime Private I Gus Abelgas Forensics (One PH) | |
Overview
The program was launched on November 23, 2005 replacing Private I and originally aired on Wednesday late nights before it was eventually transferred to Thursday late nights in August 2006. before it was eventually transferred to Friday late nights in March 2009. before it was eventually transferred to Saturday afternoons in July 2012.[4][5]
On March 21 to May 2, 2020, S.O.C.O. was temporarily suspended when it temporarily stopped airing new episodes due to the quarantine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ABS-CBN stopped its free-to-air broadcast operations as ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) due to the lapsing of the network's legislative franchise. As a result, the program released new episodes through its social media accounts.[6]
The program returned via thru online with new episodes and pay television network Kapamilya Channel from June 13 to October 17, 2020, to give way to the third season of I Can See Your Voice.[7]
S.O.C.O. was also aired on DZMM TeleRadyo initially as first-run on September 8, 2011, every Thursday at 9:15 PM. This edition ran for eleven months until July 6, 2012. On April 20, 2017, the program returned to DZMM TeleRadyo as a rerun of its previous episodes, which airs every Thursday at 2:00 PM and Friday at 1:00 AM.
On October 24, 2025, the show was revived for its second iteration and as a limited docuseries for iWant after five years of hiatus, with Gus Abelgas returning as host.[8] On January 17, 2026, the show began its TV broadcast on A2Z, All TV and Kapamilya Channel after almost 6 years due to the ABS-CBN shutdown, thus marking the return of this program to channels 2 and 16 in Mega Manila and regional channels previously held by ABS-CBN until 2020. This occurred just a year and 8 months after ABS-CBN Corporation and Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) signed content agreements to air ABS-CBN programs on the said channel.[9][10][11]
Radio program
S.O.C.O. sa DZMM also airs every Saturdays at 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM on DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 and DZMM TeleRadyo. During the program's first iteration from 2005 to 2020, it was anchored by Gus Abelgas and David Oro. On March 7, 2026, the show returned to DZMM, with Abelgas and Jessie Cruzat (replacing Oro) as the current anchors of this iteration.
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient / Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 20th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Public Service Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | |
| Best Public Service Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 2007 | 21st PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Public Service Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [12] |
| Best Public Service Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 2008 | 22nd PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Public Service Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [13] |
| 2011 | 25th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Documentary Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [14] |
| 2nd Golden Screen TV Awards | Outstanding Crime/Investigative Program | S.O.C.O.: Cainta Massacre | Nominated | [15] | |
| Outstanding Crime/Investigative Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | 26th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Documentary Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [16] |
| Best Documentary Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 2013 | 27th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Documentary Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [17] |
| Best Documentary Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 11th Gawad Tanglaw Awards | Best Investigative Program | S.O.C.O. | Won | [18] | |
| 4th Golden Screen TV Awards | Outstanding Crime/Investigative Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [19] | |
| Outstanding Crime/Investigative Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 2014 | 22nd KBP Golden Dove Awards | Best TV Public Affairs Program | S.O.C.O. | Won | [20] |
| 28th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Public Service Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [21] | |
| Best Public Service Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 12th Gawad Tanglaw Awards | Best Investigative Program | S.O.C.O. | Won | [22] | |
| 5th Golden Screen TV Awards | Outstanding Crime/Investigative Program | S.O.C.O.: Hustisya | Won | [23] | |
| 1st PUP Mabini Media Awards | Best Television Public Affairs Program | S.O.C.O. | Won | [24] | |
| Philippine Public and Safety and Order Support Group | Most Appreciated Safety and Crime Prevention TV Program in the Country | S.O.C.O. | Won | [25] | |
| 2015 | 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Public Service Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [26] |
| Best Public Service Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 13th Gawad Tanglaw Awards | Best Investigative Program | S.O.C.O. | Won | [27] | |
| 6th Golden Screen TV Awards | Outstanding Crime/Investigative Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [28] | |
| Outstanding Crime/Investigative Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | 30th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Public Service Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [29] |
| Best Public Service Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 14th Gawad Tanglaw Awards | Best Investigative Program | S.O.C.O. | Won | [30] | |
| 2017 | 31st PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Public Service Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [31] |
| Best Public Service Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Public Service Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | [32] |
| 1st Dangal ng Bayan Media Excellence Awards | Media Excellence Award for Criminology | S.O.C.O. | Won | [33] | |
| 2019 | 33rd PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Public Service Program | S.O.C.O. | Nominated | [34] |
| Best Public Service Program Host | Gus Abelgas | Nominated | |||
| 2nd Dangal ng Bayan Media Excellence Awards | Media Excellence Award for Criminology | S.O.C.O. | Won | [35] | |
| 2020 | 3rd Gawad Lasallianeta | Most Outstanding Public Affairs Show | S.O.C.O. | Won | [36] |
| Most Outstanding Public Affairs Show Host | Gus Abelgas | Won |