G.R. No. 254881 - People vs. Rafael Rey Malate @ "Ar-ar"

On November 24, 2010, around 7:00 p.m., Rafael Rey Malate (Rafael), Lito Jerdelis (Lito), and Ricardo Sandoval (Ricardo) were drinking.
Charlito Manla (Charlito) joined the group and argued with Lito.
Rafael and Ricardo pacified the quarrel; Charlito then explained no grudge against Rafael.
Rafael grabbed a bolo from the doorframe.
Ricardo shouted at Charlito to run; Rafael chased and hacked Charlito in the back.
Charlito fell; bystander Gilda Quizon (Gilda) yelled for Rafael to stop.
Rafael then hacked Charlito again on the head, causing death.

Rafael was charged with murder with qualifying circumstance of treachery.
Trial court found Rafael guilty of murder qualified by treachery, rejecting self-defense due to absence of unlawful aggression.
Rafael sentenced to reclusion perpetua without parole and ordered to pay damages to heirs.
Rafael appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA).

CA affirmed the conviction for murder but modified damages awarded.
CA found the Information sufficient and treachery proven because attack was sudden and unexpected.
CA ruled out self-defense for lack of unlawful aggression.
Penalty reduced to reclusion perpetua considering voluntary surrender as mitigating.

Rafael argued failure to prove murder elements and treachery, and insufficient Information on treachery.
The parties filed no supplemental briefs, resting on previous pleadings.

Whether the killing was murder qualified by treachery or only homicide.
Whether the qualifying circumstance of treachery was sufficiently alleged and proven.
Whether self-defense was validly invoked by Rafael.
Whether the Information sufficiently informed the accused as to the qualifying circumstance.
Proper penalty and damages to be imposed.