The situation, in brief
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino has summoned Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin to personally appear before the DOLE and present proof of a valid and current Alien Employment Permit (AEP). Tolentino, himself an Ateneo de Manila University alumnus who earned…
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino has summoned Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin to personally appear before the DOLE and present proof of a valid and current Alien Employment Permit (AEP).
Tolentino, himself an Ateneo de Manila University alumnus who earned his philosophy and law degrees from the university, said the action is not about targeting any institution but about enforcing the rule of law.
Should Baldwin be found working without a valid AEP or with a permit that does not cover the full scope of his activities, he faces cancellation of his work permit, referral to the Bureau of Immigration for possible deportation proceedings, and administrative penalties against Ateneo as the employing institution.
“No foreign national working in this country is above the law, regardless of their status, reputation, or the institution they represent,” Tolentino said, adding that if Baldwin is compliant, “there is nothing to fear,” and that if he is not, “this Department will act accordingly.”
The summons was issued in the wake of the fatal drowning of two Ateneo Blue Eagles players—Rene Clert Baterbonia, 19, and Divine Adili, 21—on June 8, 2026, during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, which raised questions about the conduct, supervision, and legal employment status of the foreign coaching staff overseeing the activity.
Baldwin, 68, is an American-New Zealand national who has served as head coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles since 2016 and also heads the Gilas Pilipinas Youth national basketball program, but has not issued any public statement on the drowning incident as of Thursday.
The DOLE summons rests on Article 40 of the Labor Code, which requires any foreign national working in the Philippines to hold a valid AEP before engaging in any work or employment activity, and DOLE Department Order No. 248, Series of 2025, which covers foreign workers in the sports, education, and hospitality sectors.
Baldwin is required to produce his current AEP, proof that it covers off-campus activities such as the Aurora team-building exercise, a valid employment contract with Ateneo, documentation of compliance with DOLE reporting requirements, and a written explanation of the circumstances of the June 8 activity including supervision arrangements and safety protocols.
