After 39 years, Cordillera gets its own prosecution office—and a Baguio prosecutor makes history as its first regional chief

FEATURE

Baguio City, Philippines – For nearly four decades, the Cordillera Administrative Region stood apart as the only region in Northern Luzon without its own regional prosecution office.

While the region steadily advanced in governance and development, its prosecutors continued to work under the supervision of Department of Justice (DOJ) regional offices outside the Cordillera—an arrangement that reflected a long-standing gap in the region's justice system.

Today, that chapter has finally come to an end.

A Baguio City prosecutor has made history after being designated as the first Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Regional Prosecutor of the newly established Office of the Regional Prosecutor–Cordillera Administrative Region (ORP-CAR), ushering in a new era for the administration of justice in the highlands.

The appointment of Regional Prosecutor Joy Marie Frances C. Cortes coincides with the Department of Justice's establishment of the Cordillera's first independent regional prosecution office—a milestone expected to bring prosecution services closer to the people, improve coordination among prosecutors, and strengthen the delivery of justice across the region.

A milestone nearly four decades in the making

The creation of the Office of the Regional Prosecutor–Cordillera Administrative Region is more than just another government office.

It is the realization of a long-awaited institutional milestone for a region created in 1987 under Executive Order No. 220.

For almost 39 years, prosecution offices in Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Baguio City, and Tabuk City operated under the supervision of DOJ regional prosecution offices outside the Cordillera.

Now, for the first time, the region has an office dedicated solely to overseeing prosecution services within its own boundaries.

The establishment of ORP-CAR is anchored on Republic Act No. 10071, or the Prosecution Service Act of 2010, which strengthened and institutionalized the National Prosecution Service.

The woman entrusted to build history

Leading the region's newest institution is Joy Marie Frances C. Cortes, a veteran career prosecutor whose appointment places her at the forefront of one of the most significant developments in the Cordillera's justice sector.

As the first OIC Regional Prosecutor, Cortes has been entrusted not only with managing day-to-day operations but also with laying the foundation for an office that future generations of prosecutors will build upon.

She is expected to establish the office's operational systems, strengthen coordination among provincial and city prosecution offices, and forge partnerships with courts, law enforcement agencies, and local government units across the region.

Cortes was formally introduced as the Cordillera's first OIC Regional Prosecutor during a meeting in Baguio City on March 24, attended by Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida, Justice Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato, Assistant Secretary Francis John Tejano, government officials, and prosecutors from across the region.

Her appointment also received recognition from the Provincial Government of Benguet, led by Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas, which formally welcomed her during its flag-raising ceremony on July 6, describing the establishment of ORP-CAR as an important step toward improving justice services in the Cordillera.

A career built in public service

According to the Department of Justice, Cortes is a seasoned career prosecutor who steadily rose through the ranks of the National Prosecution Service.

She was appointed as Prosecutor III (Assistant City Prosecutor) during the Aquino administration and later served as Regional Prosecutor of Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) beginning in January 2025 as part of a nationwide promotion of prosecutors.

Her designation as the first head of ORP-CAR marks another defining moment in a career dedicated to public service and the pursuit of justice.

Justice closer to Cordillerans

The establishment of ORP-CAR means that prosecution offices in Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, together with the City Prosecution Offices of Baguio and Tabuk, will now operate under a regional office based in the Cordillera itself.

This is expected to improve coordination among prosecutors, streamline case management, and make prosecution services more responsive to the unique needs of the region.

Beyond administrative efficiency, the change carries a deeper significance.

For the first time, decisions affecting prosecution services in the Cordillera will be guided by regional leadership that understands the culture, geography, and realities of the communities it serves.

A new chapter for the Cordillera

The appointment of Joy Marie Frances C. Cortes is more than a personal achievement.

It symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter for the Cordillera—a chapter where justice is administered through an institution rooted in the region itself.

As the Office of the Regional Prosecutor–Cordillera Administrative Region begins its work, Cortes carries the responsibility of building an institution that will shape the future of prosecution services for generations to come.

For more than 1.8 million Cordillerans, the creation of ORP-CAR represents more than a new office—it is a step toward a justice system that is more accessible, more responsive, and more firmly anchored in the communities it was created to serve.