G.R. No. 216021 - Verdadero y Galera vs. People

The Information dated September 9, 2009 charged Solomon Verdadero y Galera with murder under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code for the alleged killing of Romeo B. Plata on March 12, 2009, alleging the use of a Rambo knife, intent to kill, evident premeditation, and treachery.
On June 3, 2011, Verdadero was arraigned and pleaded "Not Guilty"; at pre-trial he invoked the defense of insanity and declined a reverse trial; trial followed.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 03, Tuguegarao City rendered judgment on May 30, 2013 finding Verdadero guilty of homicide and imposing an indeterminate sentence described in the RTC decision and awarding P50,000.00 as civil indemnity, P50,000.00 as moral damages, and P30,000.00 as stipulated actual damages.
The Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CR No. 35894 affirmed the RTC judgment in a July 10, 2014 Decision; the CA denied reconsideration in a December 15, 2014 Resolution.
Verdadero filed a petition for review under Rule 45, assailing the CA’s affirmation on the ground that his insanity at the time of the incident was established by clear and convincing evidence.

On March 12, 2009 at about 3:00 p.m., Maynard Plata and his father Romeo went to Baggao Police Station to report an alleged theft of a fan belt by Verdadero; after a confrontation they took a tricycle, stopped at a drugstore, and separated briefly.
Maynard testified he saw Verdadero stab Romeo after being alerted by Ronnie Elaydo; Verdadero allegedly stabbed Romeo on the left upper back and again below the right shoulder, attempted to attack Maynard, and was resisted with a small stool.
Ronnie ran to the police station; responding officers arrested Verdadero; Romeo was transported to Cagayan Valley Medical Center and died upon arrival; the Post-Mortem Examination Report attributed death to cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to severe hemorrhage secondary to multiple stab wounds and hack wounds.
Defense evidence established a longstanding psychiatric history for Verdadero: outpatient treatment at Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) Psychiatric Department since 1999; diagnosis of depression in 2001; confinement in 2001 for two months; diagnosis of schizophrenia on July 21, 2003; irregular consultations and multiple admissions with a fourth confinement in 2009 following a relapse.
On March 12, 2009 nurses observed Verdadero removing IV tubes and locking himself in a comfort room; he was sedated and placed in isolation; Dr. Leonor Andres-J...(Subscriber-Only)

Whether the Court of Appeals gravely erred in affirming Solomon Verdadero y Galera's conviction despite the asserted proof that his insanity at the time of the incident was established by clear and convincing evidence.

Whether the Supreme Court may review the factual determination of insanity in a petition for revie...(Subscriber-Only)