Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

UAAP Season 88

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 960px; display: block;" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178641352464620251119-uaap-season88-ateneo-tab-baldwin-UAAPMedia6659.jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin. UAAP Media</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) &mdash; The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has found former Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) head coach Thomas Anthony &ldquo;Tab&rdquo; Baldwin and the university administratively liable for violations of Philippine labor rules governing the employment of foreign nationals, imposing fines totaling nearly P5 million.</p><p>In an order promulgated on August 11, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino ruled that Baldwin and ADMU committed separate violations of Article 40 of the Labor Code of the Philippines and its implementing rules after Baldwin worked for the university without the required Alien Employment Permit (AEP) and, later, a Certificate of Exemption.</p><p>For failure to secure an AEP, Baldwin was ordered to pay an administrative fine of P10,000, while ADMU was likewise fined P10,000 for employing him without a valid permit.</p><p>DOLE said Baldwin was employed by Ateneo without a valid AEP from December 2015 to September 28, 2016, or for at least nine full months.</p><p>The bulk of the penalty, however, stemmed from Baldwin&rsquo;s failure to secure a Certificate of Exemption required under DOLE Department Order No. 248, Series of 2025.</p><p>The rules took effect on February 10, 2025, but Baldwin continued rendering services to Ateneo without securing the required Certificate of Exemption until June 14, 2026, a day before his resignation.</p><p>DOLE counted 490 days of non-compliance, with each day treated as a separate violation carrying a maximum administrative fine of P10,000. This brought the penalty to P4.9 million, for which Baldwin and ADMU were held jointly and solidarily liable.</p><p>DOLE said Ateneo, as Baldwin&rsquo;s employer, had an affirmative duty to ensure that its foreign personnel possessed valid work authorizations before and throughout their engagement.</p><p>The order said Ateneo allowed Baldwin to continue performing his coaching duties without verifying and ensuring his compliance with the requirement.</p><p>DOLE also invoked the doctrine of vicarious liability, saying Ateneo could not disclaim responsibility for administrative infractions committed by Baldwin in the course of their engagement. It noted that Baldwin, as head coach, had been given authority to train and oversee young student-athletes.</p><p>In a statement, Ateneo said it has received a copy of the DOLE order and is currently reviewing it with its legal team.</p><p>&quot;The University is ... studying the remedies available to it under the law,&quot; it also said. &quot;Ateneo will take the appropriate next steps after its review.&quot;</p><div><br></div><div><strong>&#39;GRAVITY&#39; OF CIRCUMSTANCES</strong></div><p>In imposing the maximum administrative penalty, DOLE said it considered the &ldquo;gravity of the violation against the surrounding circumstances,&rdquo; citing the deaths of student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili during training activities under Baldwin&rsquo;s supervision.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/12/-i-failed-as-a-leader-as-a-coach-says-baldwin-as-he-breaks-silence-on-adili-baterbonia-s-death-1935">&lsquo;I failed as a leader, as a coach,&rsquo; says Baldwin as he breaks silence on Adili, Baterbonia&rsquo;s deaths</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/26/cidg-dilg-hazing-tab-baldwin-ateneo-adili-baterbonia-1042">CIDG eyes hazing raps vs Tab Baldwin, 10 others over Baterbonia, Adili deaths&nbsp;</a></div><p>The department said the circumstances warranted the maximum penalty &ldquo;to send a strong message that labor laws and regulations must be strictly enforced to ensure accountability and create deterrence, regardless of the stature of the personalities involved.&rdquo;</p><p>Tolentino said Baldwin and ADMU have around 30 days to pay the administrative fines.</p><p>Aside from the fines, DOLE referred Baldwin&rsquo;s case to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for summary deportation proceedings. Tolentino, however, explained that deportation proceedings could be held in abeyance due to potential criminal charges that might be filed against the former Ateneo coach, which would have to be resolved first.</p><p>Baldwin has been perpetually banned by the UAAP in the wake of the tragedy.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/7/31/talacogon-lgu-urges-public-to-respect-baterbonia-sibings-privacy-refrain-unauthorized-fundraising-1504">Talacogon LGU urges public to respect Baterbonia siblings privacy, refrain unauthorized fundraising</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/7/8/families-of-divine-adili-rene-baterbonia-still-seek-answers-one-month-since-deaths-1514">Families of Divine Adili, Rene Baterbonia still seek answers one month since deaths</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/7/17/ateneo-creates-scholarship-funds-in-honor-of-divine-adili-and-rene-baterbonia-0031">Ateneo creates scholarship funds in honor of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia&nbsp;</a></div><div><br></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LwXlWaPZV5g?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zJ7Gbl2bJ1U?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br></div>

<p>The Department of Labor and Employment on Tuesday fined basketball coach Tab Baldwin and the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) for violations concerning his work permits.</p>

The Department of Labor and Employment on Tuesday fined basketball coach Tab Baldwin and the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) for violations concerning his work permits.

DOLE fines Tab Baldwin, Ateneo over work permit violations

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DOLE fines Tab Baldwin, Ateneo over work permit violations

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 11, 2026 09:59 AM PHT

|

Updated August 11, 2026 02:49 PM PHT

Read More:

Ateneo

Tab Baldwin

DOLE

Rene Baterbonia

Divine Adili

Aurora drowning

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