By Genalyn Kabiling Authorities will not allow the “irresponsible" few to endanger the welfare of the majority amid the strict enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) regulations to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said a person who violates the stay-at-home policy becomes a “health threat” to others who follow the health precautions against COVID-19. "There have been reports that the government plans to strictly enforce the ECQ in order to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. These are measures that are being adopted in order to ensure that the irresponsible behavior of a few does not threaten the welfare of the majority that has followed the ECQ and the stringent social distancing guidelines being enforced by the government," Nograles said during a virtual press briefing on Tuesday. Nograles, spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) appealed to the public to follow the quarantine regulations, stay at home, and observe physical distancing, to avoid getting infected. The cases of COVID-19 have soared past 6,500 in the country. He acknowledged the gravity of the health emergency besetting the country as he asked for public cooperation to contain the disease. "This pandemic has exacted a heavy toll on our country. Lives have been cut short. Loved ones have been taken from us. Never in our lifetime have we faced a public health threat of this magnitude," he said. "Yet, neither have we – individually or collectively – been in such a position to directly influence the course of events. Sa madaling salita, mayroon pong pagkakataon na ang bawat isa po sa atin ay may magagawa para masugpo itong pandemic na ito, kaya bahay muna, buhay muna. Lahat po tayo makakatulong sa laban na ito (In other words, each of us has a chance to do something to fight the pandemic. Stay at home, save lives. We can all help in this battle)," he said. Citing data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Nograles said there have been 130,177 violators of the quarantine rules since March 17. Of this number, the police arrested 30,366 quarantine violators. Around 2,740 drivers of private vehicles have been apprehended by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for allegedly violating physical distancing rules. Nograles said these violations were "not trivial" but actually have huge impact on the health of the larger population. "Every time an individual violates ECQ guidelines, he or she chooses to become a health threat to those who abide by them," he said. "Let’s follow all the rules and regulations ng ating gobyerno dahil ginagawa namin ang lahat ng ito para sa proteksiyon ninyo at sa kaligtasan ng inyong mga mahal sa buhay (Let's follow all the rules and regulations of the government because we are doing all of these for your protection and the protection of your loved ones)," he said. President Duterte earlier threatened to allow the military to take over the enforcement of the quarantine protocols after expressing dismay with the reported surge in violations. He asked the military and police to be ready to enforce physical distancing and curfew if the people show lack of discipline and disobey the quarantine regulations. The police force recently announced that quarantine violators will be immediately arrested without any warning.