Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, one of the lawmakers who spearheaded the rigorous probe of the House quad committee into illegal POGOs and alleged summary killings during the Duterte administration in the 19th Congress, passed away late Saturday after suffering a heart attack. He was 78.

His party mate and fellow Antipolo lawmaker, Rep. Ronaldo Puno, chairperson of the National Unity Party, told DAILY TRIBUNE that Acop’s death came nearly a month after he underwent 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,” he said in a message.

Puno said he was “heartbroken” by 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 his close colleagues in the House of Representatives as “wise” and an “in-house mentor” on criminal law and justice.

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

Romualdez said Acop was widely respected for his quiet work ethic, noting that he never chased headlines nor indulged in theatrics.

“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.”

Former lawmaker Ace Barbers, then chairman of the quad committee, credited Acop’s “unwavering resolve and surgically precise analysis,” saying these played a crucial role in strengthening the credibility of the panel’s probe in its pursuit of truth and justice.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua, chair of the House committee on public accountability and good governance, where Acop served as vice chair, said the late lawmaker would be remembered for his sharp intellect and expertise as an 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,” he said.

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

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong said that while Acop’s death 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 entering Congress, where he served from 2010 to 2019. He returned to the House after being reelected in 2022, serving in the 19th Congress until his death.

He earned a reputation as a meticulous, authoritative, and highly respected legislator who led several crucial House inquiries, particularly under the quad committee, which uncovered alleged government officials’ complicity with Chinese nationals linked to land-grabbing, drug syndicates, criminal groups, and illegal POGOs.

Acop was also instrumental in the discovery of the infamous “Mary Grace Piattos,” the alleged fictitious recipient of a large portion of the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Minority lawmakers Leila de Lima and Terry Ridon likewise honored Acop’s contributions to several high-profile House inquiries, including those involving the quad committee, the proliferation of fake news, and corruption in government agencies.

De Lima described Acop as a deft, no-nonsense interrogator with a courageous stance on pressing national issues, saying he would be deeply missed.