Former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball head coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin admits he has been working in the Philippines without the required Alien Employment Permit (AEP) since 2013. The admission comes after his resignation and during a clarificatory hearing, where he acknowledged the absence of the permit while coaching for multiple employers, including Ateneo.
Under Philippine rules, foreign nationals employed in the country are required to hold a valid AEP issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), based on provisions cited from Article 40 of the Labor Code and DOLE Department Order No. 248, series of 2025. Sources also note that a certificate of exemption may apply in certain circumstances; however, Baldwin states he did not have either the AEP or such exemption documents that would authorize his work.
The reports describe the admission as part of the proceedings related to the legality of his employment status while working in the Philippines for roughly a decade and a half before stepping down from his coaching role at Ateneo.
