BAGUIO CITY — As 2025 draws to a close, the news landscape of the Cordillera Administrative Region stands as a testament to a year of transition, defined by intense legal battles, public health hurdles, and a relentless push for accountability. From the high-altitude peaks of Mountain Province to the bustling streets of Baguio City, the events of the past twelve months painted a picture of communities navigating modernization while grappling with age-old geographic and social challenges.

The year began under the shadow of a significant public health crisis. In early 2025, health authorities reported a staggering 156 percent surge in influenza-like illnesses (ILI) across the region. Baguio City and Benguet became focal points of a massive medical response as cold “Amihan” temperatures exacerbated respiratory conditions.

This period served as a stark reminder of the region’s seasonal vulnerability, forcing a re-evaluation of health care readiness and public masking protocols during the peak tourist season.

As the seasons shifted, attention turned to the region’s fragile infrastructure. The midyear monsoon brought familiar but devastating soil collapses along the Halsema Highway and other arterial roads in Kalinga. Emergency response teams and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were placed on near-constant mobilization, managing closures that isolated remote highland communities. These incidents underscored the persistent need for more resilient engineering in the Cordilleras’ shifting terrain.

In the political arena, 2025 was marked by high-stakes maneuvering following the midterm elections. The region saw intense legal scrutiny over local mandates, with several protest cases reaching the Commission on Elections. Leadership transitions in provinces such as Abra were accompanied by administrative reform and the usual tensions of local governance, setting the stage for new development agendas and renewed discussions on regional autonomy.

The final quarter of the year was gripped by one of the most high-profile criminal investigations in recent memory: the mysterious death of a former high-ranking DPWH official in Baguio City. The case sent shockwaves through the bureaucracy, prompting the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG). Investigators relied heavily on digital forensics and closed-circuit television mapping, signaling a new phase in Cordilleran policing.

Parallel to the investigation was a shake-up within Police Regional Office Cordillera. Several ranking officials in Benguet were relieved following allegations of procedural lapses, a move widely seen as reinforcing accountability and professionalism within the force. The development underscored the growing emphasis on policing the police to maintain public trust.

The judiciary also delivered landmark rulings that resonated deeply with public sentiment. In December, a Baguio court handed down multiple life sentences to a member of the clergy convicted of raping a minor. The verdict was widely viewed as a victory for women and children and a clear message that no position of authority grants immunity from the law.

On the security front, the campaign against illegal drugs intensified toward year’s end. Multi-million-peso drug busts became increasingly frequent, including the seizure of more than 61 kilograms of marijuana in a single operation in Kibungan. These raids, often involving treacherous mountain treks, highlighted the ongoing battle against plantation-based narcotics and transit routes leading south.

The region also contended with lingering internal conflict. Late-year clashes between government forces and insurgents in remote areas of Abra resulted in casualties, a sobering reminder that peace remains fragile in certain mountain communities. These incidents continued to shape local policy discussions on security and indigenous protection.

Amid the grim headlines, the local economy showed signs of recovery and growth. Baguio City’s hospitality sector attracted significant investment, including a P500-million expansion of major luxury hotels. The surge reflected renewed confidence in the city as a premier destination, even as urbanization pressures mounted.

Environmental protection remained a persistent concern. Throughout 2025, local governments intensified re-greening initiatives and waste management programs. Balancing Baguio’s iconic pine-covered landscape with demands for housing and commerce remained a recurring theme in policy debates.

Cultural identity also took center stage as festivals and indigenous gatherings returned to full scale. Beyond tourism, these events reaffirmed Igorot heritage and land rights. News coverage frequently highlighted efforts to protect ancestral domains from unauthorized development, underscoring the community’s resilience.

As December draws to a close, the collective news of 2025 tells the story of a region that is both ancient and evolving — where forensic science meets ancestral tradition, and where the quiet of the mountains is periodically broken by political, legal, and social upheaval.

The year reinforced the Cordillera Administrative Region’s reputation as a land of immense challenge and enduring resilience. From courtrooms in Baguio to marijuana plantations in Benguet, the headlines of 2025 reflected a society engaged in rigorous self-examination, striving for a future as stable and enduring as the mountains themselves.BAGUIO CITY — As 2025 draws to a close, the news landscape of the Cordillera Administrative Region stands as a testament to a year of transition, defined by intense legal battles, public health hurdles, and a relentless push for accountability. From the high-altitude peaks of Mountain Province to the bustling streets of Baguio City, the events of the past twelve months painted a picture of communities navigating modernization while grappling with age-old geographic and social challenges.

The year began under the shadow of a significant public health crisis. In early 2025, health authorities reported a staggering 156 percent surge in influenza-like illnesses (ILI) across the region. Baguio City and Benguet became focal points of a massive medical response as cold “Amihan” temperatures exacerbated respiratory conditions.

This period served as a stark reminder of the region’s seasonal vulnerability, forcing a re-evaluation of healthcare readiness and public masking protocols during the peak tourist season.

As the seasons shifted, attention turned to the region’s fragile infrastructure. The midyear monsoon brought familiar but devastating soil collapses along the Halsema Highway and other arterial roads in Kalinga. Emergency response teams and the DPWH were placed on near-constant mobilization, managing closures that isolated remote highland communities. These incidents underscored the persistent need for more resilient engineering in the Cordilleras’ shifting terrain.

In the political arena, 2025 was marked by high-stakes maneuvering following the midterm elections. The region saw intense legal scrutiny over local mandates, with several “protest” cases reaching the Commission on Elections. Leadership transitions in provinces such as Abra were accompanied by administrative reform and the usual tensions of local governance, setting the stage for new development agendas and renewed discussions on regional autonomy.

The final quarter of the year was gripped by one of the most high-profile criminal investigations in recent memory: the mysterious death of a former high-ranking DPWH official in Baguio City. The case sent shockwaves through the bureaucracy, prompting the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG). Investigators relied heavily on digital forensics and CCTV mapping, signaling a new phase in Cordilleran policing.

Parallel to the investigation was a shake-up within Police Regional Office Cordillera. Several ranking officials in Benguet were relieved following allegations of procedural lapses, a move widely seen as reinforcing accountability and professionalism within the force. The development underscored the growing emphasis on “policing the police” to maintain public trust.

The judiciary also delivered landmark rulings that resonated deeply with public sentiment. In December, a Baguio court handed down multiple life sentences to a member of the clergy convicted of raping a minor. The verdict was widely viewed as a victory for women and children and a clear message that no position of authority grants immunity from the law.

On the security front, the campaign against illegal drugs intensified toward year’s end. Multi-million-peso drug busts became increasingly frequent, including the seizure of more than 61 kilograms of marijuana in a single operation in Kibungan. These raids, often involving treacherous mountain treks, highlighted the ongoing battle against plantation-based narcotics and transit routes leading south.

The region also contended with lingering internal conflict. Late-year clashes between government forces and insurgents in remote areas of Abra resulted in casualties, a sobering reminder that peace remains fragile in certain mountain communities. These incidents continued to shape local policy discussions on security and indigenous protection.

Amid the grim headlines, the local economy showed signs of recovery and growth. Baguio City’s hospitality sector attracted significant investment, including a P500-million expansion of major luxury hotels. The surge reflected renewed confidence in the city as a premier destination, even as urbanization pressures mounted.

Environmental protection remained a persistent concern. Throughout 2025, local governments intensified re-greening initiatives and waste management programs. Balancing Baguio’s iconic pine-covered landscape with demands for housing and commerce remained a recurring theme in policy debates.

Cultural identity also took center stage as festivals and indigenous gatherings returned to full scale. Beyond tourism, these events reaffirmed Igorot heritage and land rights. News coverage frequently highlighted efforts to protect ancestral domains from unauthorized development, underscoring the community’s resilience.

As December draws to a close, the collective news of 2025 tells the story of a region that is both ancient and evolving — where forensic science meets ancestral tradition, and where the quiet of the mountains is periodically broken by political, legal, and social upheaval.

The year reinforced the Cordillera Administrative Region’s reputation as a land of immense challenge and enduring resilience. From courtrooms in Baguio to marijuana plantations in Benguet, the headlines of 2025 reflected a society engaged in rigorous self-examination, striving for a future as stable and enduring as the mountains themselves.