MANILA, Philippines – Nagpapatuloy ang pagbuhos ng pakikiramay at pag-alaala ng mga kongresista sa yumaong si Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop.
Sinabi ni BH Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal na hindi lamang kasamahan ang pagtuturing niya kay Acop bagama’t ang yumaong kongresista ay nasa mayorya, kungdi isa umanong itong “mentor” na palagiang gumagabay lalo na sa mga gampanin sa komite.
“Congressman Acop was one of those rare leaders who led by example. He was generous with his time, his wisdom, and his counsel, especially to younger lawmakers who were still finding their footing in public service,” ani Nazal.
Hindi aniya matatawaran ang naging partisipasyon nito sa Quadcom bilang vice chairman maging sa pagbibigay serbisyo nito sa kaniyang distrito.
“His contribution to the nation and service to his constituents will surely be felt by many as a great loss .. he will be deeply remembered and sorely missed. I offer my most profound condolences to his family, relatives and friends. He believed that public office was ultimately about conduct, not just positions. Many of us carry those lessons with us today,” dagdag pa ni Nazal.
Si dating House Speaker Martin Romualdez ay humanga rin sa pangunguna ni Acop sa panahon ng pagdinig ng Quad Comm na aniya’y tila hindi napapagod at sa pagiging maprinsipyo nito.
“We mourn the passing of Representative Romeo Acop, a dedicated public servant who lived with discipline and integrity and remained unwavering in his commitment to serve the Filipino people. As one of the Quad Comm leaders, Chairman Acop handled every investigation with a clear purpose and full respect for due process. He believed the House should always use its oversight powers responsibly, grounded in facts and the search for truth,” ani Romualdez.
Ang karanasan aniya ni Acop bilang dating pulis at public servant ang siyang ipinakita nito sa panahon ng imbestigasyon ng Quadcom na maituturing aniyang, “methodical, disciplined, and firmly anchored on accountability rather than theatrics.”
“He was firm but fair. He asked the hard questions, but always within the bounds of decency and institutional respect. That kind of leadership elevated the credibility of the committee and the House itself. He never chased headlines. He showed up, did the work, and stayed true to the belief that public office is a public trust,” sinabi pa ni Romualdez.
Ayon naman kay dating Surigao Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, “Cong Romy is one of the truly honorable, principled , steadfast , dedicated , fiercest and true blue friends that i have met as a member of the House of Representatives. As overall Vice-chair of the Quadcom, his unwavering resolve and surgically precised analysis in the entire saga contributed much to the credibility of the body that glued the entire country to its proceedings in quest for truth and justice,” giit pa ni Barbers. Meliza Maluntag
