Manila, May 11 -- Newly elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday called for unity and restraint among senators as he urged the Chamber to rise above political divisions and focus on the country's mounting economic and geopolitical challenges.

In his acceptance speech after a Senate leadership shakeup, Cayetano appealed to senators to work together despite differences in political affiliations and views.

"In the Senate, we might not like each other, but I think we can work with each other and we can love each other," he said.

Cayetano was elected Senate President after 13 senators voted to declare all leadership positions vacant.

He later secured 13 votes for the top Senate post, with nine senators voting against and two ...