under Comelec control, to round you up and have you jailed” - Commissioner Rey Bulay said during a press briefing.The statement was made allegedly in support of a different statement by COMELEC Commissioner Socorro Inting who in turn was commenting on a statement released by supporters of then Presidential Candidate and Vice-President Leni Robredo who called for COMELEC to remain nonpartisan for the sake of the elections. Commissioner Inting commented that it was simply unnecessary to call on the COMELEC to hold a “nonpartisan” election. The commissioner also noted how such statements are liable to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the commission and by extension the elections themselves. Local news agency Rappler noted that it was unclear why Commissioner Inting took offense to this statement released by the supporters of Leni Robredo, which simply reminded the commission to hold fair and safe elections. Several lawmakers and concerned groups slammed the statement by the Comelec. Detained Senator Leila de Lima called the threat by Commissioner Bulay "uncalled for and illegal". She noted that the Armed Force of the Philippines are only allowed to arrest individuals during times of lawless violence while under orders from the Commander-in-Chief. She noted that while COMELEC has expansive powers during an election season, this "does not include the power to use the AFP in stifling criticisms and suppressing free speech”. In a separate statement, House Assistant Minority Leader and party-list Rep. France L. Castro called on COMELEC to withdraw its statement, calling the commission hypersensitive to criticisms thrown at it by the populace. The representative stated that citizens are well within their rights to call for "orderly, peaceful and credible elections”. Following the backlash, Commissioner Bulay commented that his statement was only a warning, and that he was only reminding people to follow the law. See also Election commission Presidential Electoral Tribunal Senate Electoral Tribunal House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal References External links Official Website of the Philippines Commission on Elections Current Members of Past Members of Past Members of , by decade Elections in the Philippines Philippines Quasi-judicial bodies Elections Articles which contain graphical timelines