ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—The suspect in the Batasan Pambansa bombing has been tapped to negotiate for the release of two humanitarian workers in Basilan.

Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, Basilan police chief, confirmed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer that former Tuburan town Mayor Hajarun Jamiri is negotiating for the release of Milet Mendoza and Epserancita Hupida seized by suspected armed men in Tipo-tipo town on September 15.

Mendoza is an expert in rehabilitating communities ravaged by conflict while Hupida is a program coordinator for Nagdilaab Foundation.

Macapantar said Jamiri's negotiation was also confirmed by Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul, chair of the Provincial Crisis Management Committee.

"Tingin ko magkakaproblema kami dito kasi siyempre hindi na maiiwasan na ang usapan mauuwi sa malaking ransom (I think we’re going to have a problem here because during the talk ransom is likely to be discussed)," Macapantar said.

Jamiri was among the suspects in the Batasan Pambansa bombing that killed Representative Wahab Akbar and several others.

Jamiri is also an uncle of one of the suspects in the kidnapping, Nurhassan Jamiri.

Nestor Hupida, husband of Esperancita Hupida, said he did not know why the former mayor was tapped to negotiate.

"We did not ask for him, and we are all worried why this Jamiri has been tapped," Hupida told Inquirer by phone.

Nestor said he was dying to get hold of any proof of life. "Up to now we have yet to get any proof of life,” he said.

Father Angel Calvo, president of the Nagdilaab Foundation, also could not say why Jamiri has become a negotiator.

"We did not talk about negotiation. All we want is someone to reach out," he said.

Jamiri also negotiated for the release of Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi who was kidnapped last year.

The former town mayor was linked to the Batasan Pambasa bombing in November last year. He earlier implicated Anak Mindanao party-list Representative Mujiv Hataman and his brother Jim to the bombing, but recanted his statements later.

Jamiri was released from detention early this year.