Former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball head coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin and the university have been found administratively liable for violations of Philippine labor rules governing the employment of foreign nationals, with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) imposing millions of pesos in fines.
In a decision issued Tuesday, August 11, DOLE ruled that Baldwin and Ateneo violated Article 40 of the Labor Code in connection with the American-New Zealand coach’s employment and the absence of the required work permits.
Baldwin was found to have worked for Ateneo from December 1, 2015, to September 28, 2016, without a valid Alien Employment Permit (AEP). Under Philippine labor regulations, foreign nationals seeking employment in the country are generally required to secure an AEP, which is issued by DOLE after determining that no qualified Filipino worker is available to perform the position.
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DOLE imposed a separate PHP10,000 administrative fine on Baldwin and Ateneo for the earlier violation.
The labor department also found Baldwin liable for failing to secure a Certificate of Exemption for a subsequent period of employment. Under the applicable rules, the continuing violation carried a PHP10,000 fine for each day of non-compliance.
For the 490-day period from February 10, 2025, until Baldwin’s resignation on June 15, 2026, DOLE assessed PHP4.9 million in fines for the violation. Baldwin was also assessed another PHP4.9 million for the failure to secure the required exemption certificate, bringing his total administrative liability to approximately PHP9.8 million. Ateneo, meanwhile, was ordered to pay approximately PHP4.9 million in connection with the employment-permit violations.
The DOLE ruling also referred Baldwin’s case to the Bureau of Immigration for possible summary deportation proceedings, although the labor department’s order does not itself constitute a deportation ruling.
“Without prejudice to civil, administrative, or criminal complaints pending before other investigative agencies or the courts of law against Mr. Baldwin, this matter is hereby referred to the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation for summary deportation proceedings,” DOLE said in its decision.
WATCH: ThE DOLE fines Tab Baldwin P4.9M for Alien Employment Permit violations and P4.9M for failure to secure certificate of exemption.
Ateneo is likewise fined P4.9M for employing Baldwin without permits. | via @zenhernandez pic.twitter.com/LFqd02YcON
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) August 11, 2026
Baldwin and Ateneo now face the fallout from the labor ruling as the former Blue Eagles coach’s legal situation continues to develop.
Ateneo has said it is reviewing the DOLE order with its legal team and studying the legal remedies available to the university. The school previously maintained that Baldwin was not an employee but worked under an independent contractor arrangement.
The two Blue Eagles players drowned on June 8 during a team-building activity at a beach resort in Dipaculao, Aurora. The incident triggered several investigations involving the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the Ateneo basketball program, eventually bringing increased scrutiny to the team’s operations and Baldwin’s status in the Philippines.
Baldwin subsequently resigned as Ateneo’s head coach on June 15, 2026. The UAAP later imposed a perpetual ban on Baldwin, while Ateneo was allowed to remain eligible to compete in Season 89 subject to a comprehensive reassessment of its athletic program.
The DOLE case is separate from the investigations into the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili, although the labor department’s scrutiny of Baldwin’s employment documentation intensified in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Baldwin had been one of the most successful coaches in Philippine collegiate basketball during his tenure with Ateneo. He guided the Blue Eagles to multiple UAAP championships and established the program as one of the dominant forces in the league.
The latest DOLE ruling, however, adds another significant development to the controversies surrounding the former Ateneo coach.
Both Baldwin and Ateneo have the option to pursue legal remedies against the labor department’s decision, while the Bureau of Immigration is expected to determine the next steps regarding the referral involving Baldwin.
For now, the case remains part of a wider legal and administrative reckoning surrounding the Ateneo basketball program following the Aurora tragedy.
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