- Ateneo de Manila and coach Tab Baldwin face four point nine million pesos in labor penalties.
- Authorities found Baldwin worked for four hundred ninety days without a required Certificate of Exemption.
- The case has been referred to Bureau of Immigration for potential deportation and visa cancellation.
Ateneo de Manila University is reviewing a Philippine labor ruling that found the school and former coach Tab Baldwin liable for work permit violations, the university said Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
The Department of Labor and Employment issued the decision August 11. It ordered a combined PHP 4.9 million in penalties, based mainly on 490 days of work without the required authorization.
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Ateneo said it is examining the order with its legal team and will decide its next steps after that review. The school’s statement did not announce whether it would appeal or seek another remedy.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the university was studying its options. He also said the labor agency had referred Baldwin’s matter to the Bureau of Immigration, where his visa could be affected after any criminal liability is addressed.
“Ateneo is reviewing the DOLE's order with its legal team and studying remedies available. [Baldwin's] visa would be lost as a consequence [of the referral to the Bureau of Immigration]. However, this would take place after the criminal liability is addressed.”
Tolentino made the statement August 11. The labor decision concerns Article 40 of the Philippine Labor Code, as amended and renumbered, and its implementing rules.
The main penalty covers 490 days of work
The agency calculated the largest fine at PHP 10,000 per day. The period ran from February 10, 2025, through Baldwin’s resignation on June 15, 2026.
That calculation produced PHP 4.9 million. The university and Baldwin were found administratively liable for separate violations, while the employer also faces joint and solidary liability for the penalties involving its foreign personnel.
A second assessment covers an earlier period. Officials imposed an additional PHP 10,000 fine on each of them for work without an Alien Employment Permit from December 1, 2015, to September 28, 2016.
The decision relies on Article 40 and DOLE Department Order No. 248, Series of 2025. That order requires foreign nationals, including those with permanent resident status, to obtain a Certificate of Exemption when they seek exemption from the Alien Employment Permit requirement.
Permanent residency did not replace the required certificate
Baldwin’s counsel argued during the proceedings that his permanent resident status exempted him from obtaining an Alien Employment Permit. Labor Undersecretary Gerard Mosquera said the exemption still required a separate filing.
“never applied for a certificate of exemption (COE), which was necessary for those seeking exemption from the requirement.”
Mosquera’s clarification addresses the document the agency said Baldwin needed. The ruling therefore treats the permanent resident argument separately from the requirement to secure a Certificate of Exemption.
The finding applies to Baldwin’s work in the Philippines. He holds dual citizenship in the United States and New Zealand, but Philippine labor and immigration authorities are handling the case under Philippine law.
The referral could affect Baldwin’s immigration status
The labor decision formally sends Baldwin’s case to the Bureau of Immigration for summary deportation proceedings. Those proceedings could result in cancellation of his residency status and a permanent ban on working in the Philippines.
The referral is not the same as an immediate removal order. Tolentino said the visa consequence would follow the handling of criminal liability.
Baldwin resigned from his coaching post June 15. The University Athletic Association of the Philippines has reportedly imposed a life ban on him following the safety and permit violations.
The investigation followed a training-session tragedy
Authorities began examining the team’s management and coaching staff after two Ateneo basketball players drowned during an off-campus training session in Aurora on June 8, 2026.
The players were Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili. The deaths brought scrutiny to the basketball program and Baldwin’s legal standing as a foreign coach.
The ruling now places both the coach and the university in separate administrative proceedings.
Ateneo could face additional institutional scrutiny
The university’s exposure extends beyond the labor fine. It may face administrative proceedings from the Commission on Higher Education over compliance with labor standards for foreign staff.
The case also illustrates how Philippine authorities apply employer liability when foreign personnel work without the required permit or exemption certificate. Institutions using foreign coaches, consultants, or employees may face penalties alongside the individual worker.
Ateneo’s legal team is reviewing the order as the immigration referral moves forward. The Bureau of Immigration will handle the next stage involving Baldwin’s status.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
