Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Sunday she is seeking to block extramarital dating site Ashley Madison in the country—under charges it facilitates crime.<br /><br />"The website is a platform that allows illegal acts to be eventually committed. A ban may be enforced," De Lima said in an SMS statement, referring to Ashley Madison.<br /><br />The Canada-based firm, which has the slogan: "Life is short. Have an affair," recently launched their website in the Philippines, where the population is largely Roman Catholic and divorce is illegal.<br /><br />De Lima stressed that "adultery" also remains against the law in the Philippines, even though it has largely been un-enforced and is a country where many powerful men flaunt their mistresses.<br /><br />Adultery and "concubinage," are punishable by at least six months in jail under Philippine law.<br /><br />"The [telecommunications companies] will have to do their part to ensure that illegal content and websites that are used to drive illicit conduct are not used," she said.<br /><br />De Lima did not specify if they could be compelled to block the website.<br /><br />Local press reports say that at least 2,500 Filipinos have already signed up to the website since its recent launch.<br /><br />Singapore and South Korea have previously banned Ashley Madison, citing that it threatened family values. <strong>— Agence France-Presse</strong>
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