Baldwin admits: No required permit to work in PH
Resigned Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball head coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin on Monday admitted not having an alien employment permit (AEP) while employed as a coach by several employers since 2013, including Ateneo.
Every foreign national employed in the Philippines is required to have a valid AEP issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), under Article 40 of the Labor Code of the Philippines and Dole Department Order No. 248, series of 2025.
During a clarificatory hearing conducted by Dole, Baldwin—who is a dual citizen of the United States and New Zealand—disclosed that he had never possessed an AEP since he was first employed in the country.
Questions on Baldwin’s employment surfaced after two Ateneo players under his watch drowned in a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino showed Baldwin a sample copy of an AEP during the hearing and asked Baldwin if he had ever seen the card.
“I do not have nor do I believe I’ve ever had a card like that,” Baldwin said.
He added that he once received a partially filled out AEP application form by email around 2015, but couldn’t recall whether he completed the form or not.
“It is my habit to be very fastidious when it comes to documentation, having lived in multiple countries … However, I do not have a completed application form or stamped [AEP] form,” said Baldwin.
Counsel’s explanation
Lawyer Janella Flordeliza, Baldwin’s counsel, maintained during the hearing that the former coach was exempted from the AEP due to his status as a permanent visa holder.
“Him being a permanent visa holder is what, we submit, exempts him from the AEP requirement,” said Flordeliza.
But Gerard Mosquera, officer in charge of Dole’s Office of the Undersecretary for Labor Relations, pointed out that an issuance in January 2025 required a certificate of exemption (COE) to be obtained by foreigners to qualify for exemption from the permit requirement. Baldwin had neither applied for nor secured any COE from January 2025 to present, Mosquera said.
Flordeliza countered that “at the time his permanent visa status was vested to him, there was no requirement for Mr. Baldwin to secure a COE.”
The next hearing for Baldwin’s case before Dole has been set to July 9, according to Tolentino in a chance interview.
Tolentino explained that Dole would now have to contact Baldwin’s former employers, including officials of Ateneo, to verify his testimony as well as his employment contracts.
Asked if Ateneo might be held accountable for employing a foreigner with no AEP, Tolentino said they were waiting for the results of the hearings.
Tolentino also clarified that Dole’s proceedings were not related to the criminal aspect of Baldwin’s case.
“What we are here for is to ensure continuous compliance with labor laws—not just for Baldwin, but for everyone else as well. Even Hollywood stars and members of [K-Pop group] BTS are required to have an AEP. Everyone who comes here to work must have an AEP,” he said.
NBI probe continues
Meanwhile, with the National Bureau of Investigation continuing its investigation into the drowning of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, three more Ateneo team officials appeared before the bureau on Monday to submit their affidavits on the incident: former assistant coach Francisco Alas, athletics director Emanuel Fernandez, and physical therapist Jerick Rueca.
Alas was accompanied by around 10 lawyers when he arrived at the NBI Homicide Division at 10 a.m., while Rueca was with his lawyer and a paralegal.
Fernandez, along with his lawyer, Peter Castillo, told reporters in an ambush interview that he was not at the resort in Dipaculao when the incident occurred, and was only subpoenaed since the NBI “wanted to cover every base.”
Ateneo Blue Eagles assistant coach Buboy Domingo and strength and conditioning coach CJ Elumba were represented only by their lawyers.
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