Tab Baldwin joins a UAAP Season 86 basketball press conference at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on September 27, 2023. UAAP Season 86 Media Team handout
MANILA — The camp of resigned Ateneo de Manila University coach Tab Baldwin asserted Monday that he does not need an alien employment permit (AEP) as he is a permanent resident.
An AEP is a “permit issued to a non-resident alien or foreign national seeking admission to the Philippines for employment purposes.”
Baldwin, along with his counsels Janella Flordeliza and Daniel Darvin, attended the special panel hearing at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday to discuss his work permit.
Based on DOLE records, Baldwin has not filed an AEP nor an application for exemption from AEP.
“Out of utmost caution, we take the position that the alien employment permit is not a requirement strictly applicable to our client in light of his permanent resident visa,” Darvin said.
Baldwin said he does not remember successfully filling out an AEP application form.
“I understand the importance of having rights, employment status. I am generally very fastidious about these sorts of things. However, I do not have a completed application form, a stamped application form, but to my recollection and to my habits, I would be very sure that I would have followed through filling out the AEP form. I just don't have a recollection of what happened after that,” he said.
Under existing issuances, a permanent resident is still required to submit a certificate of exemption.
“He will not be considered compliant with the requirements of the law and regulations,” said special panel officer-in-charge Gerard Mosquera when asked about potential sanctions of non-application for an exemption.
During the hearing, Baldwin recalled that he started working in the Philippines in 2013 when he was employed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) as a consultant.
After, he was hired as a consultant of PBA team Talk N Text, then as head coach of men’s national basketball team Gilas Pilipinas in 2015 and 2016.
He started coaching the Ateneo men’s basketball team late 2016.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino noted that Baldwin’s Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) was issued in 2016.
Tolentino asked Baldwin’s residency status, noting what he called a “gap” between his employment and ACR.
“This is now a hearing ad testificandum. There is a gap between 2013, 2016, when Mr. Baldwin said a while ago, under oath, that he was working for SBP, as coach of the national team,” he said.
Baldwin’s counsel asked for time to check their records.
“You may rest assured that Coach Baldwin had taken every effort keenly necessary to make sure that his presence in the Philippines and his work here is lawful. However, respectfully, the information trying to be asked for us today, we cannot make it up,” Darvin said.
The DOLE will hold another hearing on July 9. It will issue a subpoena to officials of the Ateneo de Manila University.
Baldwin resigned as Ateneo men’s basketball coach following the death of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity in Aurora on June 8.
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