BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is pushing for the establishment of a regional prosecution office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to improve access to justice and address long-standing gaps in service delivery.
Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida said the move seeks to finally realize a plan that has been pending for 37 years, noting the need for a dedicated prosecution system in the region.
“Sa matagal na panahon, inaako ng Region 1 at Region 2 ang responsibilidad, pero nakita natin na may gap kaya minabuti na nating magtatag ng sariling opisina para sa Cordillera,” Vida said.
Currently, prosecution services in the region are managed by DOJ offices in Regions 1 and 2, which the justice secretary said limits focused attention on the region’s specific legal and cultural context.
The planned regional prosecution office will consist of eight offices—two in Baguio City and Tabuk City, and six in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, with the main office in Baguio City.
Vida said the establishment of a dedicated office will allow a regional prosecutor to focus on the needs of the region’s communities, improve coordination with law enforcement agencies, and enhance data collection for more responsive, evidence-based policies.
The Justice Secretary assured that justice services remain supported through DOJ regional offices in Regions I and II while preparations for CAR’s regional prosecution office are ongoing.
This initiative is part of the DOJ’s broader effort to decentralize its services and strengthen justice delivery across regions.
Local leaders and residents welcomed the DOJ’s planned office, expressing hope that it will further speed up and improve justice services in the region. **JDP/RGA-PIA CAR, Baguio City
