ADMU issues statement over claims following Dole clarificatory hearing

MANILA, Philippines — The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) issued a statement regarding resigned basketball coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin’s contractual status in the institution on Saturday July 11, saying it is a “proven record.”

The statement came after the clarificatory hearing of the Department of Labor and Employment on July 9, attended by ADMU’s legal counsel in connection with the drowning of student athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during the team’s training activity in Aurora.

The university explained in a Facebook post that Baldwin’s engagement in ADMU since 2016 has been governed by an independent contractor agreement.

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“This contractual arrangement predates the Aurora tragedy by nearly a decade and is reflected in written agreements. The existence of that contractual arrangement is a matter of proven record,” ADMU wrote in a post.

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READ: Tab Baldwin served as Ateneo consultant, not employee – counsel

ADMU dismissed claims that Baldwin’s position was “manufactured after the tragic events in Aurora in order to avoid liability” and expressed “these suggestions are not supported by the truth.”

During the July 9 hearing, Atty. Krisha Santos said that Baldwin was not an employee of the university, but a consultant with the “discretion to perform the work in a manner that he sees fit.”

“Given Coach Baldwin’s longstanding stewardship of the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team, it is understandable that many assumed he was an employee of the University. However, that assumption should not be confused with the actual legal nature of his engagement as head coach,” ADMU added.

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The university clarified that the legal team’s referral to the contractual arrangement was mentioned in relevance to the issues raised during the proceedings, further stating that the move was “not presented to act as a subterfuge for the University to evade any form of accountability.”

It, moreover, emphasized that the university has consistently participated in the proceedings by the government and will continue to cooperate with the legal process.

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“Nothing in this clarification diminishes the profound sorrow we continue to feel over the loss of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, nor does it lessen the University’s continuing actions in response to this tragedy. We remain committed to cooperating with every inquiry while advancing the institutional improvements that this tragedy calls for,” ADMU said. /jpv

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