Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop has passed away at the age of 78.
This was confirmed by Acop’s fellow Antipolo lawmaker Ronaldo Puno on Sunday.
The House of Representatives deeply mourns the passing of Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Macusi Acop, a loyal, courageous and staunch public servant, Speaker Faustino Dy said.
Former Speaker Rep. Martin Romualdez expressed condolences over Acop’s passing, paying tribute to his crucial role as senior vice chairman of the House Quad Committee (Quad Comm).
“We are saddened by the passing of Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop. Our prayers and condolences go to his family and loved ones,” Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said.
“Sadly, he has really passed on. Our hearts are broken," Puno said in a Viber message.
“He was a friend for more than 25 years and a devoted, courageous, honest public servant. The Congress and our country are the lesser for his loss," he added.
Acop underwent a kidney transplant last Nov. 28, initially described as “successful.”
“He was recovering well and he was up and about. We were excited for his imminent return to us,” Puno recalled. Reports said Acop was rushed to the Assumption Hospital after he was found unconscious in his room by daughter Dr. Karla Marie Acop on Saturday, Dec. 20, at about 10:12 p.m.
A security aide of the lawmaker, Pat. Frank Louie Pastrana, first responded when a resident nurse alerted him of an emergency situation.
Acop was taken to the Assumption Hospital but was declared dead at 10:56 p.m.
Puno, a deputy speaker, represents District 1 and National Unity Party chairman.
Acop, a retired police brigadier general, represented District 2, and was another NUP stalwart.
As overall chairman of the Quad Comm in the 19th Congress, Acop unearthed the supposed fictitious names in the acknowledgement receipts (ARs) for confidential expenses made by the Office of the Vice President.
He noticed one of the recipients who signed the ARs was named Mary Grace Piattos, which he took mention that the name was similar to a restaurant and a potato chip brand.
He was also described as a model of integrity in public service. In every role he has played, his stance has been clear that the law is for the benefit of the people and that power is a responsibility, not a privilege.
Acop helped steer complex and politically sensitive inquiries in the said committee with discipline, fairness, and respect for due process. The Quad Comm was established during the speakership of Romualdez.
He said Acop’s death was a “significant loss” to the House and to the country, whose work helped strengthen congressional oversight and accountability, particularly at a time when principled and committed leadership is most needed.
“As one of the Quad Comm leaders, chairman Acop handled every investigation with a clear purpose and full respect for due process. He believed the House should always use its oversight powers responsibly, grounded in facts and the search for truth,” Romualdez said.
The former Speaker added that Acop’s background in public service and law enforcement was evident in the way he conducted Quad Comm hearings, describing them as methodical, disciplined, and firmly anchored on accountability rather than theatrics.
“He was firm but fair. He asked the hard questions, but always within the bounds of decency and institutional respect. That kind of leadership elevated the credibility of the committee and the House itself,” the Leyte solon said.
Romualdez added that beyond his role in high-profile investigations, colleagues widely respected Acop for his quiet work ethic and his consistent attention to legislative duties.
“He (Acop) never chased headlines. He showed up, did the work, and stayed true to the belief that public office is a public trust,” according to the former Speaker.
Romualdez extended his condolences to Acop’s family, friends, and constituents, saying the late House
leader leaves behind a legacy defined by the reforms he helped push and the standards he set in congressional oversight.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and with the people of Antipolo City. May they find
comfort in knowing that his service mattered, and that his contributions—especially to the work of the Quad Comm—will not be forgotten,” Romualdez said.
“We will miss his sharp mind and courageous stance in many pressing issues in our country,” De Lima said.
