Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop dies after heart attack
Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop has passed away. He was 78.
In a text message to News5, National Unity Party president and Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno said Acop died of a heart attack.
"He had his successful kidney transplant last Nov. 28. He was recovering well, and he was up and about. We were excited for his imminent return to us. Then he had a heart attack last night," Puno said.
"Our hearts are broken. He was a friend for more than 25 years and a devoted, courageous, honest public servant."
House Speaker Bojie Dy called Acop's passing a huge loss to Congress and to Antipolo.
"Ang kanyang halimbawa bilang isang marangal at tapat na lingkod-bayan ay mananatili at patuloy na magsisilbing gabay sa mga institusyong kanyang pinaglingkuran," he said in a statement.
Sen. Ping Lacson also offered his condolences to his "dear friend, cavalier, upperclassman, and adviser."
"We started working closely together in our earnest, sincere efforts to cleanse the police organization of scalawags and misfits when I was [Philippine National Police chief] and he was my director of Comptrollership," he wrote in a statement.
"He will surely be missed. May he rest in peace."
Acop, who was a member of NUP from 2021 to 2025, first served in the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2019 and was elected to his fourth term in 2022.
In his latter term, Acop became the vice chairperson of the House Quad Committee, which investigated the Duterte administration's drug war and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.
The late lawmaker was known for questioning a Commission on Audit official about a certain Mary Grace Piattos' signature in acknowledgment receipts for confidential funds of the offices held by Vice President Sara Duterte. He pointed out that Mary Grace is the name of a cafe while Piattos is the name of a chips brand.
Before taking public office, Acop was the chief director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
