Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Andres "Andy" Bautista has asked poll employees to pray for him and his family.
Bautista made the request during the flag-raising ceremony at the Comelec Headquarters in Intramuros, Manila on Monday.
"Ang gusto ko lamang hingin ay patuloy kayong sumama sa aking pagdarasal para malaman ko ang dapat gawin sa sitwasyong ito (all I ask for you to continue praying with me so that I will know what I should do in this situation)."
Bautista is in the midst of a controversy following his estranged wife's accusation that he may have amassed ill-gotten wealth.
He turned emotional during some parts of the speech.
He said he is not clinging to his post.
But at the same time, he expressed certainty that he does not want to be parted from his staff and co-workers at the poll body.
"Hindi naman mahirap ibigay yung posisyon o bumaba sa posisyon. Ang problema ko ay ang mawala ang Comelec family sa aking buhay (It is not difficult to give away or step down from this post. My problem is that I don't want to lose the Comelec family in my life)," he cried.