Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, one of the lawmakers who spearheaded the rigorous probe of the House quad committee into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators and summary killings under the Duterte administration during the 19th Congress, passed away late Saturday due to a heart attack. He was 78.

His partymate and fellow Antipolo lawmaker Rep. Ronaldo Puno, chair of the National Unity Party, told DAILY TRIBUNE that Acop’s death came nearly a month after what he described as a “successful kidney transplant” on 28 November.

“Sadly, he has really passed on… 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 in a message.

Puno said he was “heartbroken” over the passing of his “friend for more than 25 years,” describing the late lawyer and former police general as a “devoted, courageous, honest public servant.”

More than a legislator, Acop was regarded by close colleagues in the House of Representatives as “wise” and an “in-house mentor” on criminal law and justice.

Speaker Bojie Dy said Acop left a legacy as “a model of integrity in public service,” steadfast in his belief that “the law is for the benefit of the people and that power is a responsibility, not a privilege.”

Former Speaker Martin Romualdez, meanwhile, honored Acop for helping steer some of the chamber’s most complex and politically sensitive investigations, particularly those of the quad committee, where he served as senior vice chairperson.

Romualdez said Acop was widely respected for his quiet work ethic, noting that he was never one to chase headlines or indulge in theatrics.

‘Firm but fair’

“He believed the House should always use its oversight powers responsibly, grounded in facts and the search for truth,” Romualdez said. 

“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,” Romualdez added.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua, chair of the House Committee on Public Accountability and Good Governance, where Acop served as vice chair, said Acop would be remembered for his sharp intellect, calling him an expert investigator who commanded respect.

“Liars who testify before hearings have no place to hide when it is attorney and former PNP-CIDG chief Romeo Acop firing the questions,” Chua said.

The so-called “Young Guns” in the House, a group of neophyte lawmakers, also mourned the passing of their “mentor,” saying his exemplary performance as a distinguished and respected legislator left an indelible mark in the chamber.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong said that while Acop’s passing leaves a void that cannot be filled, “his legacy lives on in the institutions he strengthened, the laws he helped shape, and in the many public servants he guided by example.”

Acop served as director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group from 1994 to 1995 before becoming a lawmaker from 2010 to 2019. He returned to Congress after being reelected in 2022 during the 19th Congress and served until his death.

He earned a reputation as a meticulous, authoritative, and highly respected legislator who led crucial inquiries in the House, particularly those of the quad committee, which uncovered alleged Chinese links to land-grabbing, drug syndicates, and illegal POGOs.

He was also credited with exposing the so-called “Mary Grace Piattos,” the alleged fictitious recipient of a large portion of the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Senate Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson also mourned the death of Acop, calling him a “dear friend, cavalier, upperclassman and adviser.”

Lacson said they worked closely in their “sincere efforts to cleanse the Philippine National Police” when he was still PNP chief.

“It was his original recommendation to download 85 percent of the PNP’s financial and logistical resources to frontline units, leaving only 15 percent to headquarters as an integral part of the PNP reformation program,” he said.

“Our friendship even grew stronger when I became senator in 2001,” Lacson added.