Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero is hoping that the Senate probe on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) can shed light on the real masterminds and not just the small players doing their bidding.

In a radio interview on DWIZ, Escudero lamented how it's mostly Filipinos who were getting charged when it comes to illegal POGOs.

"Lahat ng pagdinig na ginagawa, lahat ng kinakasuhan ay puro mga Pilipino. Nasaan na yung sinasabi nilang mga Intsik na nasa likod nito? Yung mga tunay na may-ari ng POGO (In every probe conducted, all those being charged are Filipinos. Where are those Chinese individuals behind this that they're talking about? The real owner of POGOs)," he said.

"Bakit ni isa wala pa kong nakikitang ginigipit o iniipit, nakikita mo puro mga Pilipino at Pilipina lamang ang naiipit dito? Sana lumabas at malaman talaga sinong mga nasa likod nito at nang maipit na yung dapat maipit, kasuhan yung dapat kasuhan (Why haven't I seen any of them being pinned or pressured and all I see are Filipinos being pressed? I hope we can unmask those behind this so we can press those who should be pressed, charged those who should be charged)," he added.

Escudero also weighed in on the custody of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo after Senator Risa Hontiveros pointed out that it was the Senate that first issued an arrest warrant against her, and that she ought to be under the custody of the Senate.

"Hindi yan unahan. Mas mataas ang warrant na ini-issue ng Korte, bugso ng kasong finile (This is not a race. The court's warrant takes precedence, due to the case filed)," he said.

The arrest warrant was issued by the Capas, Tarlac Regional Trial Court Branch (RTC) 109 for Guo’s alleged violation of Section 3 (e) and (h) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act on Thursday, September 5.

Guo was repatriated back to the Philippines from Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Escudero reminded the public that Guo is just a resource person of the Senate who violated some of its rules; that's why she was cited in contempt and was issued an arrest warrant.

"Pero labas doon, mas mataas ang level ng kaso at warrant na ini-issue ng isang Korte mula sa husgado mismo. Kaya nga, kausap ko si Senator Risa kahapon, sabi ko, sumunod ka sa Korte at hilingin ang presensya ni Mayor Guo sa Senado kung kailan man yung petsa ng hearing mo (But outside of that, the warrant issued by a court from a judge is of higher level. That's why I spoke with Senator Risa yesterday, I told her to follow the court and asked for the presence of Mayor Guo in the Senate on the date of her hearing)," he said.

"Hindi naman ito, parang por kilo mo yung tao, karne, na gusto mo dito o dyan. Kinakailangan lamang siya ng Senado mag-attend ng pagdinig at yun ang ginagawa ng Senado sa ngayon (This is not like weighing a person like meat that we want her here or there. The Senate just needs her to attend the hearing and that's what the Senate is doing now)," he added.

The Carpas RTC has granted the request of the Senate for Guo's presence.

Hontiveros said she earlier wrote the Tarlac court to request the appearance of Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, at the resumption of the Senate hearing.

The Tarlac court also ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to bring Guo at the mentioned date and time of the Senate public hearing.