Romeo Acop

Romeo Macusi Acop was born on March 11, 1947 in Sudipen, La Union.^[1][2] Acop attended the Philippine Military Academy, graduating in the 1970 Magiting batch with Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr., a Governor of Zambales. He then studied law at the José Rizal University, graduating cum laude in 1986.^[3]

Acop then served in the Philippine National Police as chief of Criminal Investigation Service (CIS, now CIDG) from 1994 to 1995 with the rank of Chief Superintendent, which was equivalent to a brigadier general, during the Ramos government.^[4] He resigned as CIS in 1995 due to the Kuratong Baleleng rubout.^[5] In response to the resignation of Director General Panfilo Lacson as PNP Chief in January 2001, Acop, with two other prominent police officers, resigned their posts.^[6] By 2002, the CIDG reviewed the case against him due to the Dacer–Corbito double murder case.^[7]

On November 28, 2025, Acop was discharged after receiving a kidney transplant.^[15] He was found unconscious at his residence on December 20, and later died at the Assumption Specialty Hospital and Medical Center in Antipolo,^[15][16] at the age of 78, following a heart attack.^[17] His remains were cremated and then brought to the Batasang Pambansa for a requiem mass and memorial service for him on December 29.^[18] His death triggered a special election in his constituency scheduled on March 14, 2026.^[19] His son Philip Conrad "Bong" won the election in a landslide.^[20]