Newly-elected Antipolo 2nd District Representative Dr. Philip Bong Acop, who gained a wide margin of votes in the recently held special election, has called on his supporters and election opponents for unity as he vowed to serve with integrity as he serves the remaining term of his late father, Rep. Romeo Acop in the House of Representatives.

Dr. Acop, a practicing pediatrician and a former city councilor of Antipolo City, in his victory statement, urged everyone in the second legislative district of Antipolo, to set aside political differences and move on for the sake of the people in the district which comprises eight villages- Barangays Calawis, Cupang, Dalig, Inarawan, San Jose, San Juan, San Luis, and San Roque.

“Magserbisyo ako ng may malasakit, may integridad, at may buong pagpapakumbaba. Sisikapin nating maisulong ang mga programang tunay na kailangan ng tao at ang mga solusyong angkop sa tunay na kalagayan ng ating mga barangay at komunidad (I will serve with compassion, integrity, and complete humility. We will strive to advance programs that are truly needed by the people and solutions that are appropriate to the real conditions of our barangays and communities),” Dr. Acop said.

Acop was proclaimed winner by the members of the District Board of Canvassers led by Atty. Joseph Vega of Comelec Antipolo, following the manual canvassing of votes held at the Ynares Event Center in Antipolo City on March 15.

Based on the certificate of canvass released by the District Board of Canvassers, Acop, of the National Unity Party (NUP) garnered 60,051 votes or 71.87 percent of the 83,550 total number of votes cast for all the six candidates.

Independent candidates Reden “Red” Llaga was a far second with 12,054 votes, followed by incumbent City Councilor Irvin Paulo “Paui” Tapales who received 10,080 votes. The other candidates and their votes were Atty. Nat Lobigas (754 votes); Dan Infante (412 votes); and Maria Trinidad Cafirma (199 votes).

Rizal Comelec Supervisor Atty. Arnulfo Pioquinto said out of the total of 252,283 registered voters in the district, only 84,367 voted which is equivalent to around 33 percent voter turn-out.

Dr. Acop, who is the only son of the late Rep. Romeo Acop who died in December of 2025, will serve as second district representative in the 20th Congress in place of his father, until June 7, 2028.

The young Acop also encouraged the people in his district to join him and help each other in his desire of promoting more progress, and more humane future for the residents in the district.

During election day on March 14, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia and his team composed of division heads and their staff, assisted the Comelec’s Antipolo office in manpower, to ensure a smooth and orderly conduct of the special election which utilized a manual form of voting and counting.

Some residents in Barangay San Jose, the largest voting population in the city’s second district said the legacy of the young Acop’s late mother, Dr. Resurreccion Acop, who also served as member of the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress in 2019 but died in the recent Covid-19 pandemic, was also instrumental in the victory of the young doctor politician. His mother was a kind-hearted pediatrician, who was loved by several generations of Antipolo residents, rich and poor alike, including those in the far-flung mountain communities.

During the filing of the young Acop's candidacy, streets of the Antipolo's city proper where the local office of the Comelec is located, were filled with supporters.

Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro “Junjun” Ynares, III, administered the oath taking of Dr. Acop on Monday morning, March 16 at the Antipolo City hall.

He is set to be sworn in as the newest member of the 20th Congress at the House of Representatives later in the afternoon by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.