The co-chairmen of the original House quad-committee (quad-comm) came back together one last time on Monday, Dec. 29, and it was for their dear friend, the late Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop.

Former congressmen Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte, 2nd district), Joseph Stephen "Caraps" Paduano (ABANG LINGKOD Party-list), Dan Fernandez (Santa Rosa, lone district); and Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. gave eulogies for the departed Acop during Monday's memorial service at the House of Representatives.

It was the first time since the previous 19th Congress that the four quad-comm co-chairmen and their overall vice chairman Acop--albeit in spirit--were together in plenary.

For those who closely followed the gripping, marathon quad-comm hearings, the co-chairmen's respective tributes Monday felt more like an attestation instead of a revelation: Acop was their moral and legal compass.

"Cong Romy was a pillar of the quad-comm," said Barbers, the overall chairman of the original mega-panel. He referred to the lawyer and former police brigadier general as his "mentor".

"His turn to display his usual fair and firm demeanor and brilliance was a much awaited portion in the entire proceedings. Fearless but objective, respectful yet uncompromising, always open to ideas to find the truth, sometimes fatherly soft, sometimes fatherly strict. He studied every detail, every word uttered and reserved his judgment to himself," he said.

It was perhaps no accident that during this time, Barbers said the House enjoyed the highest trust rating, as reflected in the tally sheets of the respectable survey outfits.

"The credibility and integrity of the members who participated in those inquiries carried not only the quad-comm but the whole House of Representatives in winning the trust of the people," he said.

"To sum it all up, Cong Romy is the complete legislator. He actively took part in committee hearings. He thoroughly studied the resulting legislations and actively participated to have them passed. Truly honorable. The fact that he was unopposed in his district meant that he served his constituents well. He never lost an election in his district," Barbers said.

Abante is the overall quad-comm chairman in the current 20th Congress. While it has yet to hold any hearings or inquiries, Acop's principles as a lawmaker will surely be its guiding light in the future.

“These are not abstract virtues. They are lived out in difficult choices, tested in moments of pressure, and proven when doing what is right comes at a personal cost. This is how I will remember Romeo Acop," he said.

“In our pursuit of truth and accountability, Rep. Acop consistently stood on the side of justice. He never treated our hearings as mere political exercises or procedural obligations," noted Abante.

Acop wasn't always rigid like a Filipino Steve Rogers; he also had his Tony Stark-ish eureka moments, according to Fernandez.

"Hindi ko malilimutan si Romy especially yung kaniyang mga kwento during long debates (I will never forget Romy especially his stories during long debates). A timely quip, a well placed question and the calm that followed. He showed us that leadership isn’t just about the bold decisions, but about making the journey workable for the people beside you," he said.

"There was a moment in a critical hearing when the room felt heavy and Romy quietly stepped in with a suggestion that redirected the conversation toward practical, lawful solutions," recalled Fernandez.

In one unguarded, honest, and emotional moment during his eulogy, the former Laguna congressmen looked over to Acop's urn and said, "May you rest in peace, bro."

Paduano described what all people saw with Acop on the surface: "What stood out most about Cong Romy was his unwavering nationalism and patriotism. His love for the country was never performative. It was quiet, steady, and real."

"He was a firm believer in accountability, integrity, and good governance. He believed that public office is, above all, a public trust," said Paduano, also known as quad-comm's "Mr. Contempt".

He went on to share his precious memories of "Poca" (his pet name for Acop) as a cool friend. "During long and official travels, we would often ride together, almost always in Cong Romy’s car."

"We used to play golf early in the mornings in Forest Hills, Antipolo—those early hours when conversations flowed freely, unguarded by rules and formality. Sometimes, we would exchange food or share lunch during breaks in hearings—small moments that may seem ordinary, but now carry so much meaning," Paduano recounted.

"I learned so much from him, not just as a colleague, but as a legislator and as a human being. Cong Romy may no longer sit beside us in hearings, or ride with us on long journeys, but his lessons remain. His example remains. His legacy remains," he further said.