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Romeo Acop has passed away, says 'heartbroken' NUP Chairman Puno

Philippines | National

Romeo Acop has passed away, says 'heartbroken' NUP Chairman Puno

By Ellson Quismorio

At A Glance

Deputy Speaker Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno, chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), has confirmed the passing of party stalwart Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop.

Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop (PPAB)

Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop (PPAB)

Deputy Speaker Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno, chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), has confirmed the passing of party stalwart Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop.

"Sadly, he has really passed on. Our hearts are broken," Puno said in a Viber message to House reporters at past noon Sunday, Dec. 21.

"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," Puno said of Acop, a former police brigadier general.

According to Puno, Acop had a 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."

Reports said that Acop was pronounced dead at Assumption Hospital on Saturday night. The 78-year-old solon was taken there after he was reportedly found unconscious in his room.

Acop was a quiet, loyal member of the NUP, the second biggest political party in the 300-plus strong House of Representatives.

A veteran congressman, Acop made his mark in the previous 19th Congress as part of the vaunted House quad-committee (quad-comm). He was overall chairman of the mega-panel.

It was during the marathon hearings of the quad-comm that Acop's no-nonsense demeanor came to the fore. Memorable moments of the quad-comm involved him dressing down uncooperative resource persons wirh his authoritive, deadpan style.

Only Acop and Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante were the quad-comm leadership's holdovers in the current 20th Congress.

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