GROSS negligence is defined under Philippine jurisprudence as follows: "Gross neglect of duty or gross negligence refers to negligence characterized by the want of even the slightest care, or by acting or omitting to act in a situation where there is a duty to act, not inadvertently but willfully and intentionally, with conscious indifference to the consequences, insofar as other persons may be affected. It is the omission of that care that even inattentive and thoughtless men never fail to give to their own property." (Supreme Court, GR 211239, April 26, 2021; Office of the Ombudsman, petitioner, vs. Mirofe C. Fronda and Florencio B. Arias, respondents).
In the Philippines, the safety of vulnerable road users is often sacrificed or conveniently ignored by officials so that motor vehicles can travel faster. Such actions or omissions, which lead to serious injury or death for vulnerable road users, can be considered gross negligence.
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