MANILA - Former senator Bongbong Marcos on Saturday called for unity amid intense protests against the burial of his late father and former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

"Let my father's burial be the first day amongst many days of our continuing to work for the unity and the progress of our country," Marcos said on Twitter.

Let my father's burial be the first day amongst many days of our continuing to work for the unity and the progress of our country. pic.twitter.com/9pyL24GnOO

— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) November 19, 2016

On Friday, pockets of protests sprouted in some parts of the metro after the remains of the late strongman were hurriedly buried at the heroes' cemetery.

Critics blasted the move, saying the court ruling allowing it was still subject to appeal and that Marcos did not deserve to be buried there.

In a facebook post, Bongbong said they waited 27 years to fulfill his father's wish of "simple soldier's ceremony."

"It was my father's fervent wish that when he came to the end of his days, that he be buried in a simple soldier's ceremony. This was in keeping with his idea that he was but a soldier doing his duty, a citizen serving his country," he said.

The former senator specifically thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for his "recognition of [his] father's service to the nation."

Earlier, Duterte called for "forgiveness" and urged human rights victims to bring their cases to court.

Bongbong also thanked members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for assisting in the burial ceremony.