Samonte assumed the post vacated by Alfredo ‘Gerry’
Geronimo who retired from the government service last year.
Samonte is the eldest son of the late-Renato ‘Rening’
Samonte and Lucia dela Cruz of Taliptip, Bulakan, Bulacan and became the
president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (Gat. Marcelo H. Del Pilar –
Bulacan chapter) from 2009 to 2011.
Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado welcomed the
appointment of Samonte by President Aquino as a fitting tribute to the
qualification and capability of a true-blue Bulakenyo at the helm of the
prosecution service, an indispensable pillar in the administration of justice
in the province.
Samonte, who has an extensive law practice all over Metro
Manila and Central Luzon spanning three decades, finished A.B. Political
Science at the Ateneo de Manila University and graduated from the San Beda
College of Law in 1980.
His adept skills as a trial lawyer was honed and polished
during his more than 10 years practice at the Law office of Dakila F. Castro
where he litigated high-profile criminal cases, one of these was the libel case
filed by then President Corazon C. Aquino.
Chief Prosecutor Samonte is well-remembered for the
brilliancy he displayed during Day 34 and Day 35 of the impeachment trial of SC
Chief Justice Renato C. Corona where he crossed-examined former Manila Mayor
Lito Atienza.
Then lead counsel for the defense, justice Serafin
Cuevas, was blanked and rebuffed not once but thrice by Prosecutor Samonte
while grilling ex-Mayor Atienza in connection with the irregularity in the sale
of the Basa-Guidote property in Legarda,
Manila.
Aside from playing golf, ‘Attorney Jun’ is also an avid
gun-enthusiast like former IBP president Jose ‘Peng’ dela Rama and incumbent
Bulacan IBP-chapter president Ted Villanueva.
He is also a boat-racing aficionado and once a member of
the Philippine delegate to the RP-Japan boat-racing competition. Aside from
being an all-around sports enthusiast,
Samonte is also a collector of vintage and fancy cars and
a former president of the Mini-Cooper Club of Bulacan.—EMIL G. GAMOS
