Imbestigador
| Imbestigador | |
|---|---|
 Title card since 2016 | |
| Genre | Crime, Horror, Documentary, Docudrama, Investigative News |
| Presented by | Mike Enriquez |
| Country of origin | Philippines |
| Original language(s) | Tagalog |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production company(s) | GMA News and Public Affairs |
| Release | |
| Original network | GMA Network |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original release | August 2, 2000 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Imbestigador (lit. Investigator) is a Philippine television investigative docudrama show broadcast by GMA Network. Hosted by Mike Enriquez, it premiered on August 2, 2000 replacing Compañero y Compañera. It tackles anomalies and inconsistencies in the Philippine government. It also criticizes the corruption in the Philippine society, from overpriced items to arms smuggling, covering a wide variety of topics that sometimes include Filipino traditions and beliefs. It is a public service show that aims to inform the people of the current problems troubling the Philippines.
It originally aired during Wednesdays from 2000 to 2001, then it moved to Saturdays from 2001 to 2012. From 2012 to 2014. the show aired in Sunday evenings.[1] In July 2014, the show returned to Saturday afternoons.[2][3]
The show on January 1, 2012 has "caught-up" on GMA Pinoy TV and is no longer one-week delayed due to the show being pre-empted on December 31, 2011 in lieu of "Trending 2011: The GMA News and Public Affairs Yearend Special", which was also hosted by Mike Enriquez with Dingdong Dantes.
History
The show premiered on August 2, 2000.[4] It began with very casual crime scene reports, which continues to be the usual focus. Various crimes were featured, including kidnapping, slavery, child abuse, and various drug-related crimes. The team was equipped with hidden cameras for doing entrapment operations with the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). A recently new format (while the program is still on the previous timeslot) similar to rival, ABS-CBN's S.O.C.O. (Scene of the Crime Operatives), which led to move at its current timeslot since July 19, 2014.
Expansion of social issues
From crime reports, Imbestigador expanded into an all-around investigative show. It now also featured various societal problems such as corruption, problems in local governments, and illegal activities. It also has done special reports regarding poverty, honesty, cleanliness, education, wasted public funds, youths, and public health and safety. It also honored Pope John Paul II when Mike Enriquez did a special coverage regarding the pope's funeral. He also acted as a quiz master regarding the report of education, which reported the education system is weakening.[5] On their fifth anniversary special, the show acted as "Santa Claus" by giving computers to each police station in Metro Manila. It has also featured out of the country specials (in the United States, Japan, Italy, Singapore, France, and Germany). The show, alongside Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, aired a live coverage of the wake of the late former president Corazon Aquino on August 8, 2009, just seven days after her death.
A new format (while the program is still on the previous timeslot) similar to rival, ABS-CBN's S.O.C.O. (Scene of the Crime Operatives), which combines drama and reality, and led moved to its current Saturday timeslot on July 19, 2014.[6]
On January 9, 2016, the show reverted to its original format.[3] However, the said recently reverted original format lasted for less than three months and reverted to its dramatization format on April 9, 2016.
The original format, however, is being adopted by the Sumbungan ng Bayan segment of GMA's early evening newscast 24 Oras since its reformat last November 10, 2014.
Special reports
Pobreng Pinoy
Date aired: August 28, 2004
This special report tackles poverty. Out of 85 million Filipinos, ninety percent (90%) are at or under the poverty line. It features some disgusting material: poor Filipinos eating worms out of the trash. Another feature of the report covers the sale of internal organs.
It was re-aired on March 26, 2005, Black Saturday.
"Sarap, Hirap, Laganap": Valentine's Day special report, 2005
Date aired: February 12, 2005
In the 2005 Valentine's Day special report, Imbestigador indicated that Filipino lovebirds, especially married couples, typically spend the romantic holiday in very cheap motels and rarely in five-star hotels. It would result in a population explosion. Some couples had more than three children, but it explodes into about 16 or even 20 children. Having more than five children usually brings a family under the poverty line.
Pinoy, Tapat Ka Ba? (Filipinos, Are You Honest?)
Date aired: July 2, 2005
Reader's Digest conducted an honesty survey via wallet test in 2004 in the Philippines, deliberately dropping wallets containing money and identification to see if they would be returned. The results of this test suggested that 80% of Filipinos were honest. Imbestigador conducted its own wallet test for two weeks to prove again how honest Filipinos were. Out of 80 wallets dropped, 65 were returned.
"Kuryente"
Date aired: June 7, 2008
This special report tackled the current power crisis of that year.[7] It focused on why the Philippines had one of the most expensive electricity rates.
"Cyberkids"
Date aired: September 18, 2010
Part 1 of the show's 10th anniversary series,[8] a special report on children as young as six years old involved in the cybersex trade, sometimes at the coercion of their own parents.
"Smuggled Pinoys"
Date aired: September 25, 2010
Tackling the issue of human trafficking, specifically Filipinos, who are smuggled to different parts of the world, delivered, exported, and sold like commodities to the highest bidders.[9]
"A Decade of Imbestigador"
Date aired: October 2, 2010
The final part of the 10th anniversary series, the episode demonstrates how the show’s catchphrase — “Hindi ka namin tatantanan!" — has also become an apt description for the show’s self-declared mission to “relentlessly help victims of exploitation and bring those accountable to justice." [10]
Activities
Now, Imbestigador, through the 24 Oras' segment Sumbungan ng Bayan, has its own action center that would focus on any complaints, such as violence or corruption. It opens Mondays - Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
It also had five-minute radio snippets on DZBB at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., and 4:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. This segment, however, was folded up.
References
- ↑ "Pinakabagong weekend program schedule ng GMA 7, magsisimula na ngayong Agosto". GMANetwork.com. July 31, 2012.
- ↑ "'Imbestigador' now airs Saturday afternoons at 4:45 PM, beginning July 19". GMANetwork.com. July 18, 2014.
- 1 2 "Imbestigador turns 15, returns to its known and original brand this Saturday". GMANetwork.com. January 8, 2016.
- ↑ Philippine Daily Inquirer Aug 2, 2000.
- ↑ "'Juan Tanga?'". GMANetwork.com. 2007-06-06.
- ↑ "'Imbestigador' to air Saturdays". mb.com.ph. July 19, 2014.
- ↑ ""Kuryente": An Imbestigador Special Report". GMANetwork.com. 2008-06-05.
- ↑ "Imbestigador marks 10th anniversary with special episodes". GMANetwork.com. 2010-09-08.
- ↑ ""SMUGGLED PINOYS" A Special Report on Human Trafficking". GMANetwork.com. 2010-09-24.
- ↑ "A Decade of Imbestigador!". GMANetwork.com. 2010-10-01.