MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Two, not three, of the 12 robbery suspects killed in a shootout with police in Parañaque City Friday night were reportedly former members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), a police official said on Monday.

In an interview earlier Monday, director for police community relations German Doria said investigation showed two of the slain suspects were reportedly former enlisted men in the Philippine Army, and another was allegedly a former assistant instructor in the elite Army Scout Rangers.

But later, Doria corrected his statement and said only two of the killed suspects were former members of the AFP. The former Ranger, he clarified, is in the custody of the Manila Police District (MPD).

In a separate interview, MPD head Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales confirmed this and identified the former Rangers instructor as Ariel Bundaon, who reportedly went absent without leave (AWOL) several years back.

Bundaon is one of seven alleged members of the notorious robbery gangs Waray-Waray and Ozamis arrested by operatives of the MPD in Bacoor, Cavite, on Saturday, Rosales said.

Those involved in the Parañaque shootout are facing charges of multiple murder and frustrated murder, while the others are facing charges of illegal possession of firearms, Rosales said.

Doria said they are still verifying the identities of the two slain alleged ex-soldiers with the AFP after the initial investigation indicated they had also gone AWOL several years back.

Doria also increased the number of suspects slain in the shootout inside the United Parañaque Subdivision to 12, citing official police reports.

The 12 were believed to be members of two robbery gangs, the Waray-Waray and the Ozamis groups. They were also allegedly responsible for a series of high profile robberies in Metro Manila.

?These guys are highly-trained,? Doria said, adding that the suspects used high-powered firearms that are not in the police arsenal.

Bundaon was reportedly the one who positively identified two of the 12 as former members of the military.

He said they are also verifying the source of the weapons seized from the suspects, including an M203 grenade launcher, and M-16 and M-14 rifles.

Doria also said the police, ?as much as possible,? try to avoid hurting civilians during dangerous operations.

The police have come under intense criticism after five civilians, including a child and a security guard, were killed during the shootout in Parañaque City.