Tab Baldwin, Ateneo slapped with P4.9M fine over work permits

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has held former Ateneo men’s basketball head coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) administratively liable for work permit violations, imposing a combined fine of P4.9 million.

In a decision promulgated Tuesday, Dole said Baldwin and ADMU violated Article 40 of the Labor Code, which requires foreign nationals seeking employment in the Philippines to secure the necessary work permits.

“This office hereby finds Mr. Thomas Anthony ‘Tab’ Baldwin and Ateneo de Manila University to be administratively liable for separate violations of Article 40 of the Labor Code, as amended and renumbered in its implementing rules and regulations,” the decision read.

Dole said Baldwin is liable for failing to secure an Alien Employment Permit (AEP) while working as a basketball coach in the country. Under Article 40 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, every foreign national employed in the Philippines is required to have a valid AEP issued by the agency.

During a clarificatory hearing on Baldwin’s work status on June 29, Baldwin admitted that he did not have an AEP while working as a coach for several teams since 2013.

While his counsel maintained that he was exempt from securing an AEP because of his status as a permanent visa holder, Dole Undersecretary Gerard Mosquera pointed to an issuance in January 2025 requiring a Certificate of Exemption (COE) for those seeking exemption from the AEP requirement. During the same hearing, Mosquera said Baldwin had neither applied for nor secured a COE from January 2025 to the present.

With this, the agency said the P10,000 fine covers each year of noncompliance with the AEP requirement, for both the employee and the employer. It then ordered Baldwin and ADMU to pay separate fines of P10,000, noting that he was employed by the university from December 1, 2015, to September 28, 2016.

Further, the agency jointly fined Baldwin and ADMU P4.9 million for failing to secure a COE, with P10,000 imposed for each day of the violation. It noted that Baldwin failed to secure a COE from February 10, 2025, until his resignation as head coach on June 15, 2026.

“For failure to secure a certificate of exemption under the DO [department order] 248 series of 2025, Mr. Thomas Anthony Baldwin and ADMU are jointly and solidarily liable to pay an administrative fine in the total amount of P4,900,000,” the decision added.

Meanwhile, Dole said it will refer its decision to the Bureau of Immigration for proper deportation proceedings.

“Finally, 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,” the agency noted.

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.