By Argyll Geducos As the Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor draws near, the national government hailed health workers as the real heroes in the country's fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), assuring them that the government will go after those who discriminate or harass the "capeless heroes." Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) In a virtual press conference on Monday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles recognized that every generation produces its own set of heroes. This time, it would be the healthcare workers and other frontliners. "For the past few weeks, as the country and the whole world have grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, our heroes have been our health workers and all our frontliners who continue to work despite the constant threat to their lives and their well-being," he said. "Ang mga health workers po natin ang ating tunay na bayani ngayon (Our health workers are our real heroes now). They are our real-life, real-time heroes," he added. According to Nograles, the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases denounces in the strongest terms acts of discrimination inflicted upon healthcare workers, Overseas Filipino Workers, and suspected, confirmed, and recovering COVID-19 cases. "Kinokondena ito ng IATF at binabalaan po namin na kakasuhan po namin ang mga taong mahuli na ginagawa ito (The IATF condemns these acts and warns those who are caught committing the said deeds)," he said. "Sana po tugunan din ito ng LGUs at sana po mag-issue sila ng EO o ordinansa na magpapataw ng parusa sa ganitong mga gawain (We also hope that local government units will address the situation and issue executive orders or ordinances that will punish these acts)," he added. Nograles lamented the stoning of the house of a family in Lambunao town, Iloilo, whose patriarch has died of COVID-19. "Ang malungkot dito, sila ay naulila. Ang nakakagalit dito, pumayag sila (What's sad is they were orphaned but what makes us angry is they allowed)––in the interest of transparency and in order to warn those that had been in contact with them––na ilahad sa publiko na sila ay PUM. Dahil dito, pinagbabato ang kanilang tahanan (for the public to know they are patients under monitoring but this cost their house to be stoned)," he said. "Hindi po ito nakakatulong (This does not help), and the government will act on cases of discrimination wherever and whenever these happen," he added. Nograles said the discriminatory acts include, but not limited to, coercion, libel, slander, physical injuries, and the dishonor of contractual obligations such as contracts of lease or employment. Volunteer lawyers Nograles said there are lawyers who volunteered to help the victims of discrimination and harassment. The Palace official said lawyers from the University of the Philippines College of Law and from all over the country, collectively known as Volunteer Lawyers Against Discrimination, have volunteered their services to victims of discrimination. "Sa inyo, maraming salamat po (To you our sincerest thanks) and may your tribe increase," Nograles said. "Sa mga kapwa ko abogado, ngayon po ang panahon upang ibigay natin ang ating mga serbisyo sa mga taong nangangailangan nito (To my fellow lawyers, this is the time to give our services to those who badly need it)," he added. The Volunteer Lawyers Against Discrimination can be reached through its Facebook page or through 09177052333.