Judge suspends arraignment of husband-killer, orders psychiatric test

MANILA, Philippines—A Quezon City court has ordered the examination of woman who shot her husband at a Quezon City mall to determine if she was fit for trial on murder and parricide charges.

Judge Bayani Vargas of Regional Trial Court Branch 219 directed psychologists and psychiatrists at the National Center for Mental Health to assess Shella Macapugay’s psychological and mental health.

This is for the court to determine if the woman, who claimed to be hearing voices and suffering from depression after shooting her husband, is  “competent to undergo all the stages of a rigorous trial.

The court also suspended her arraignment on murder and parricide charges  pending a report on her mental state.

“The psychologists and/or psychiatrists are hereby ordered to submit to this court a report, 10 days upon completion of evaluation of the said accused,” Vargas said in her order.

Court staff said Macapugay was to be taken to the NCMH in Mandaluyong City on November 18 for the required psychological and psychiatric evaluation

The order was issued upon the request of the defense and of Jail Superintendent Milet Batac of the Quezon City Jail’s female dormitory, who sent Vargas a psychological evaluation report on her inmate’s “unusual behavior.”

This included claims that Macapugay was hearing voices and would shout “Nand’yan na, nand’yan na” restlessly.

Macapugay, 25, is charged with parricide for shooting her husband, Abel, at the SM North Edsa on September 14 out of jealousy because he had allegedly abandoned her for another woman.

The Quezon City Police District also filed a murder charge against her for shooting security guard  Ricardo Inamac III, who tried to stop her from shooting herself in the head.

The court set the next hearing of the case on January  24 during which the report on Macapugay’s mental health is likely to be discussed.