Acop son takes oath as Antipolo solon

MANILA, Philippines — Philip Conrad Acop, son of former Antipolo lawmaker Romeo Acop, who passed away last December 2025, has taken his oath of office as the new representative of the city’s second district.

The younger Acop took his oath before House of Representatives Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III during the session on Monday, two days after winning the special election held in the city.

The special election was for the seat left vacant after the older Acop’s death.

READ: Another Acop takes Antipolo seat in House – Comelec

Rep. Acop was proclaimed on Sunday by the Commission on Elections after he got 60,051 of 82,796 votes after the special polls on Saturday.

Last December 21, 2025, National Unity Party (NUP) chairperson and Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno confirmed that Acop had died at the age of 78.

Acop is a long-time NUP member.

“Sadly, he has really passed on. Our hearts are broken. He was a friend for more than 25 years and a devoted, courageous, HONEST public servant,” Puno, also an Antipolo City representative, said.

“The Congress and our country are the lesser for his loss,” he lamented.

Official police reports stated that Pat. Frank Louie Pastrana, who was assigned to Acop, and Acop’s youngest child, Dr. Karla Marie Acop, tried to enter the lawmaker’s room.

They then found Acop lying on the floor with his duty nurse. Acop was then brought to the Assumption Hospital at 10:20 p.m., but was eventually pronounced dead at 10:56 p.m.

READ: Solons mourn Romeo Acop’s death: Huge loss for House

Acop made a mark at the House of Representatives with his tactical examination of resource persons during legislative inquiries — whether it be regarding transportation concerns, public safety, illegal drug issues and more recently, corruption allegations.

Acop made a mark at the House o with his tactical examination of resource persons during legislative inquiries — whether it be regarding transportation concerns, public safety, illegal drug issues and more recently, corruption allegations.

It was through Acop’s questioning at the House committee on good government and public accountability hearing that the issue of allegedly fictitious names signing the acknowledgement receipts (AR) for confidential expenses made by Vice President Sara Duterte’s offices was first raised.

Yet, Acop’s skills as a former head of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) shone the most during the quad committee hearings, where he and the chairpersons of four House panels unlocked a scheme that ties the past administration’s drug war to the illegal activities in Pogos, human rights violations, and a rewards system for police officers.

Acop was also the one asking questions when former police Col. Royina Garma — herself a former official of the CIDG — admitted that she can directly visit former president Rodrigo Duterte when he was in Malacañang, by going through Senator Bong Go who was then special assistant to the president.

After several grueling hearings, Acop was tasked with delivering the committee report.  In it, Acop said the quad committee has uncovered tracks to a “grand criminal enterprise” with former president Rodrigo Duterte at the center of it. /mr