1956 San Nicolas murders

On the morning of October 11, 1956, in the San Nicolas barrio of Roxas, Palawan, Philippines, Domingo Salazar, a 42-year-old farmer, carried out a mass stabbing attack using a spear and a bolo knife. According to the Wikipedia account of the case, the killings began after Salazar's pregnant common-law wife, Máxima Pacho, declined to help him with house repairs, choosing instead to accompany her pregnant sister, Romana, to fetch palay. Salazar first killed Romana, then Máxima, and then Máxima's nephew Fortunato Nares Jr. He then walked roughly 800 metres to four neighboring residences, killing everyone he encountered inside. At the grounds of the local school, he stabbed Manuel Adion in the back, perforating Adion's left lung; Adion survived after receiving emergency treatment. Salazar also pursued two other men, Pablo Páz and Severino Adion, throwing his spear at them without striking either. He attempted to force entry into the schoolhouse, which had been locked and barricaded by the teacher present, and then went to the sitio's chapel, ringing its bell and calling for people to come and kill him; no one responded. Salazar eventually surrendered to two armed guards and a barrio officer after they promised — falsely, as a means to secure his surrender — that he would be executed at the wharf once he signed a document, though he was instead subdued and arrested before completing the thumbmark signature.

Salazar was a Moro originally from Zamboanga who had relocated to San Nicolas some years prior to the killings. His relationship with Máxima Pacho was a common-law marriage that, under the civil code then in force, was not legally recognized because Máxima was Christian and Salazar was Muslim. Early American press coverage attributed the attack to "lingering illness" and unresolved debt, but by trial it was established that Salazar believed Máxima was having an affair with Romana's husband, Fortunato Nares, and doubted his paternity of her pregnancy; Salazar confessed to having planned the killings for several days as what he described as vindication of his honor.

Salazar waived his right to a preliminary investigation and was examined by the chief of Puerto Princesa Hospital, who found him sane. He confessed to the Provincial Commander of Puerto Princesa, and this confession was later affirmed by Salazar as voluntary. At trial in Roxas, he was charged with sixteen counts of murder, one count of frustrated murder, and two counts of attempted murder, and pleaded guilty. He was convicted and sentenced to sixteen death sentences plus additional prison terms, along with financial indemnification for victims' heirs and survivors.

On appeal, Salazar's defense argued he was affected by the juramentado culture-bound syndrome associated with Moro culture, and contested findings of premeditation and treachery. The Supreme Court dismissed these arguments but found that Salazar's guilty plea offset the aggravating factor of treachery. On June 30, 1959, the Court reduced his penalty: the three murder sentences related to Máxima Pacho, Romana Pacho, and Fortunato Nares were changed to reclusión perpetua, with revised terms for the remaining charges and an increased indemnity to victims' relatives. <parameter name="timeline">[{"date": "1956-10-11", "event": "Domingo Salazar killed 16 people with a spear and bolo knife across multiple locations in the San Nicolas barrio of Roxas, Palawan, before surrendering to authorities."}, {"date": "1956-10-24", "event": "Salazar's physical and mental state was examined at Puerto Princesa Hospital, where he was declared sane; he confessed to the Provincial Commander of Puerto Princesa."}, {"date": "1959-06-30", "event": "The Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld Salazar's conviction but reduced his death sentences to reclusión perpetua and adjusted other prison terms."}]