Former Sen. Bong Revilla and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles. Composite

MANILA- Former senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. on Tuesday said alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles may help clear his name in the corruption scandal once the latter testifies.

This was after the Department of Justice provisionally admitted Napoles to the witness protection program on Feb. 27.

“Dati ko pa sinasabi na magandang mag-testify siya. Wala naman ako nakikitang problema doon, baka nga makatulong pa sa kaso ko yun. Baka nga ma-clear pa niya ako, kaya mas maganda kung siya ang umupo,” Revilla told reporters at the sidelines of his plunder trial.

(I've said before that it would be good if she testified. I don't see any problem there, it might even help my case. She might even clear my name, that's why it's better if she testified.)

Revilla is accused of amassing P224.5 million in kickbacks from his Priority Development Assistance Fund, also called pork barrel, after funneling the money to bogus non-governmental organizations of Napoles.

The former senator added he believes that if Napoles reveals everything she knows, it will help him in his case because it will prove that they do not know each other personally.

“Hindi ko naman kilala si Napoles, hindi ko naman kilala si Benhur Luy, nanggaling na rin mismo sa bibig niya na hindi niya ako kilala,” Revilla said.

Revilla has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center since 2014.

The Palace in January said Napoles, a "central figure" in the controversy, should be allowed to speak after she claimed she gave a campaign donation worth P5 million to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.