The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) claimed the life of Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Resurreccion “Cion” Acop, making her the third solon to die from the dreaded infection. Acop, 73, died after contracting COVID 19 on April 8, her husband, former Rep. Romeo Acop disclosed Friday, May 28. He also revealed that both of them tested positive on the same day.
However, the lady solon’s condition worsened that she had to be intubated for 21 days before succumbing to multiple organ failure.
Acop was the third member of the Lower House to die from COVID-19.
Last year, Senior Citizen Partylist Rep. Francisco Datol Jr., 71, died on August 10 while Sorsogon Rep. Ma. Bernardita “Ditas” Ramos, 72, succumbed to COVID-19 complications on September 8.
Four other House members failed to finish their three-year term in the 18th Congress after succumbing to various ailments.
Acop, a medical doctor, was vice chairperson of the House Committee on Health and was among the more hardworking members of the Lower House.
Among the law she co-authored were Republic Act 11476 that institutionalized good manners and right conduct in basic education curriculum; RA 11475 that transferred capital and seat of Rizal government from Pasig City to Antipolo City; and the Bayanihan 1 and Bayanihan 2 laws.
She filed and co-authored 146 measures as a first termer in the Lower House.
In a statement, House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate joined the family and friends of Acop in mourning her demise.
“As first termer sa House, nakitaan nating ang pagiging aktibo ng partisipasyon ni Rep. Cion sa mga deliberations sa House (Rep. Cion has demonstrated active participation deliberations in the House.) Nagpapasalamat din po kami sa pakikipagtulungan niya sa Bayan Muna at Makabayan Bloc sa iba’t-ibang isyu (We thank her for her cooperation with Bayan Muna and Makabayan bloc in various issues.),” said Zarate in a statement.