MANILA- Malacañang is confident that any move to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte won't flourish since impeachment is a "numbers game."

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo on Friday said an impeachment complaint against Duterte is unlikely to hurdle Congress, where the chief executive wields great influence.

“How can the President be scared of an impeachment? An impeachment is a numbers game. Supermajority ngayon sa Kongreso, baka nga sa [House] committee on justice wala na kaagad yun," he told reporters.

(We have a supermajority in Congress. A complaint may not even pass the Committee on Justice.)

Duterte on Thursday threatened to send his critics to jail should they file an impeachment case against him.

"I-impeach ako? Kulungin ko silang lahat. Subukan niyo. Try to take it, do it, and I will do it," Duterte said.

(Impeach me? I'll jail them all. Try it.)

He then dared his critics to try and file impeachment raps against them if they are brave enough.

"Takot-takutin niyo ako ng impeachment, p*t*ng *n*, subukan niyo," he said.

(Scare me of impeachment? Just try it.)

• ‘Subukan niyo’: Duterte threatens to jail those planning to file impeachment case

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario earlier said Duterte could be impeached if he fails to defend the Philippine national territory, which includes the exclusive economic zone, as mandated by the Constitution.

• More than enough basis to file impeachment vs Duterte: lawmaker