Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo questioned the knowledge of Island Garden City of Samal Assessor John Kenneth Enumerables about the areas under his jurisdiction after the witness appeared unsure whether Barangay Matanos existed in the city during Tuesday’s impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Tulfo said an assessor should be familiar with all barangays within his assigned territory to ensure that properties are properly identified and assessed.

“How can you be an assessor in one area if you do not even know the barangays? You should have them memorized,” Tulfo told Enumerables during the 41st day of the impeachment proceedings.

The senator also questioned how the assessor could properly evaluate properties if he could not determine whether their stated locations were within his jurisdiction.

“Kung hindi mo naman teritoryo, malay mo na sa Timbuktu pala yung binibigay sa iyong barangay. Wala po doon sa area of responsibility mo. How can you assess that properly?” Tulfo said.

Senate President Francis Escudero, the presiding officer, clarified that it was Duterte who had mentioned Barangay Matanos, not the witness.

Escudero noted that Enumerables had consistently identified the property covered by a Transfer Certificate of Title ending in 3134 as located in Barangay San Isidro, Kaputian District. The witness had also said he was unfamiliar with Sitio Matanos, if such a place existed.

Enumerables later told the impeachment court that he knew all the barangays in Kaputian District.

Asked by Escudero whether there was a Barangay Matanos in Samal, Tulfo said he only wanted the witness to clearly establish whether the place existed within his jurisdiction.