Manila, Sept. 14 -- The Senate impeachment court may have to vote twice to settle the number of votes needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, even if senator-judges first overturn presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero's existing "hard 16" ruling.

Impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol said Monday the first question before senator-judges would be whether to grant Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo's appeal of Escudero's July 6 ruling requiring 16 votes, or two-thirds of the 24-member Senate, for conviction.

"If magkaroon ng majority vote na i-reverse yung ruling, then hindi na 16, hard 16 ang magiging count for the final vote (If there is a majority vote to reverse the ruling, then 16, or the hard 16, will no longer be the coun...