Romeo Acop Biography
Romeo Acop was born on March 11, 1947, in Sudipen, La Union, Philippines. He came from a generation that entered public service through the armed forces and police, and later moved into law and elected office. Over the decades, Acop built a reputation as a disciplined officer, a careful lawyer and a steady lawmaker who focused on public order and accountability. He served his country both in uniform and later as a representative of Antipolo City’s 2nd District. Romeo Acop was 78 years old as of 2025.
Romeo Acop Education
Romeo Macusi Acop began his formal service training at the Philippine Military Academy, graduating with the Magiting Class of 1970. This military education gave him a structured foundation in leadership and discipline that shaped his early career. After his years in uniform, he chose to study law to deepen his professional skills and better serve in public roles that required legal knowledge. He completed his law degree at José Rizal University and graduated with honors, earning the distinction of cum laude in 1986. These academic steps — military formation followed by legal study — explain how he moved from police work into positions that required both operational experience and legal insight.
Romeo Acop Career
Romeo Macusi Acop’s professional life moved through clear stages. He spent many years in the Philippine National Police, rising to senior ranks and leading key units. He served as chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), a role that placed him at the center of complex criminal investigations and internal police reforms. His police career included moments of public controversy and intense scrutiny, the kind that often accompanies long service in law enforcement. Even so, his operational experience made him an influential voice on policing and public order for years afterward.
After leaving active police work, Acop turned more fully to public office. He won election as the representative of Antipolo City’s 2nd District and served three consecutive terms from 2010 to 2019. When his wife, Resurreccion Acop, succeeded him in 2019, he continued to stay closely involved in local affairs. He returned to the House in 2022 and served until his passing in 2025.
During his time in Congress, Acop held leadership roles on committees related to public order and safety, transportation, and good government. He took part in high-profile inquiries and helped author many bills, working on issues that ranged from police procurement to veterans’ welfare. His record shows a focus on law, order and the institutional reforms he believed would strengthen frontline services.
Acop’s skills as an organiser and investigator made him a valued committee officer. In the 19th Congress he served as vice chairperson of a multi-panel investigation that looked into alleged links involving gaming operators, syndicates and illegal drugs — an inquiry that eventually recommended major legal actions. He was also named to roles that would have made him a prosecutor in an impeachment proceeding, a sign of the trust his colleagues placed in his legal and investigative background. These responsibilities reflected the blend of policing, law and legislative work that defined much of his public life.
Romeo Acop Personal Life
Romeo Acop lived much of his public life in Antipolo City, where his work and family were closely known to local residents. Romeo cop was married to Resurreccion Marrero Acop, who herself served as representative of Antipolo’s 2nd District after his first three terms ended. The couple shared a life of public service: where he provided continuity through law and policing experience, his wife also answered the call of public office until her untimely death from COVID-19 complications in May 2021.
The loss of Resurreccion Marrero Acop was deeply felt by Acop and by their community, and it remained an important part of his personal story. He had children and grandchildren, and family remained central to his life even while he carried heavy public responsibilities. Colleagues and friends remembered him as a loyal friend and adviser, someone who combined a strict professional approach with warmth in private relations.
Throughout his later public life, Acop kept strong ties with former police colleagues and with leaders who valued his practical suggestions on police reform. One such example was his advocacy for moving more resources to frontline units — a change he recommended when working with senior police officers. This mix of family loyalty and professional commitment shaped both how people knew him in Antipolo and how national colleagues saw him in Manila.
Romeo Acop Death
Romeo Acop died on December 20, 2025, at the age of 78. He suffered a sudden heart attack after recently undergoing a kidney transplant on November 28, 2025. His passing was announced publicly by party leaders and friends the following day, who described him as a devoted public servant whose colleagues and community would miss him. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum sent messages of condolence, and many noted his steady temperament and long years of service in both police work and the legislature. The hospital and official reports cited a heart attack as the immediate cause, following the recent transplant and recovery period that had kept him under medical care.
His death came while he was active in committee work and while he remained listed as representative for Antipolo’s 2nd District. Tributes highlighted his investigative mind, his record of committee work on public safety and accountability, and his decades of service to the state. For colleagues who had known him for years, the loss was both personal and institutional: it removed a familiar voice on security and legal reforms from ongoing national debates.
Conclusion
Romeo Acop’s life shows a steady path from military-style formation to police leadership to law and legislative service. He combined rigorous training, legal study and frontline policing with years of elected office where he focused on public safety, accountability and practical reforms. His personal life was marked by shared public service with his late wife, and his final years were shaped by health challenges that culminated in his passing in December 2025.
FAQs
Who was Romeo Acop and what offices did he hold?
Romeo Acop was a retired police general, lawyer and a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Antipolo City’s 2nd District. He served multiple terms as representative and held leadership roles in committees on public order, transportation and good government.
When and where was Romeo Acop born?
He was born on March 11, 1947, in Sudipen, La Union. His early training at the Philippine Military Academy and later legal studies shaped his career in public service.
What was Romeo Acop’s educational background?
Acop graduated from the Philippine Military Academy with the Magiting class of 1970 and later earned a law degree from José Rizal University, graduating cum laude in 1986.
Did Romeo Acop have a background in policing before politics?
Yes. He served many years in the Philippine National Police and led the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. His policing background informed much of his legislative work on law enforcement and public safety.
Thomas Fred is a journalist and writer who focuses on space minerals and laboratory automation. He has 17 years of experience covering space technology and related industries, reporting on new discoveries and emerging trends. He holds a BSc and an MSc in Physics, which helps him explain complex scientific ideas in clear, simple language.
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