Former Ateneo men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin and Ateneo de Manila University were slapped with a combined P4.9 million administrative fine by the Department of Labor and Employment for violations involving Baldwin’s work permit on Tuesday.
In a decision promulgated Tuesday, DOLE found Baldwin and Ateneo separately liable for violating Article 40 of the Labor Code, which requires foreign nationals employed in the Philippines to secure the appropriate work permits.
The department said Baldwin worked as a basketball coach in the country without securing an Alien Employment Permit, while Ateneo was held liable as his employer.
Baldwin admitted during a June 29 clarificatory hearing that he had not obtained an AEP despite coaching several teams in the Philippines since 2013.
According to DOLE, Baldwin had neither applied for nor obtained the required COE from February 10, 2025 until his resignation as Ateneo head coach on June 15, 2026.
The agency imposed a P10,000 fine each on Baldwin and Ateneo for the AEP violation, covering Baldwin’s employment with the university from December 1, 2015 to September 28, 2016.
The more substantial penalty came from the failure to secure a COE.
DOLE ordered Baldwin and Ateneo to jointly and solidarily pay P4.9 million, computed at P10,000 per day for the duration of the violation.
The department said the finding covers Baldwin’s failure to obtain the exemption certificate despite the requirement under Department Order No. 248, Series of 2025.
DOLE also stressed that the administrative ruling does not affect any separate proceedings that may be pursued by other government agencies or the courts.
As part of the decision, the department said it would refer the matter to the Bureau of Immigration for appropriate deportation proceedings against Baldwin.
The development comes less than two months after Baldwin resigned as Ateneo’s head coach following the fallout from the death of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
The UAAP earlier imposed a lifetime ban on Baldwin over the incident, while Ateneo’s men’s basketball team was allowed to continue competing in Season 89.
