Manila, May 17 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday stressed the need to set aside politics now that the midterm elections are over and work together for a better Philippines.

Marcos made the call during the thanksgiving party at the Bagong Pilipinas' headquarters in Mandaluyong City, following the proclamation of the 12 winning senators, half of whom ran under the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition.

"But now it's time, I think, to put all the politics aside. It's time to put all of the issues that were raised during the election and only talk about not political issues but developmental issues, healthcare issues, education issues, agricultural issues, supply issues, all of these things," he sai...