Police arrested a 57-year-old farmer suspected of being involved in gun-running activities during a buy-bust operation Friday in Barangay Tala, Orani town.

The Bataan Police Provincial Office reported that personnel from the Orani Municipal Police Station conducted the operation.

Police operatives, acting as poseur-buyers, successfully purchased one .38-caliber revolver with six rounds of live ammunition for 4,000 Philippine pesos in marked money.

The suspect, who was not identified by name, failed to present any legal documents for the firearm during the transaction.

He is now in the custody of the Orani Municipal Police Station and faces charges for violating Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Bataan Provincial Director Police Col. Marites A. Salvadora directed all police stations to intensify operations against loose firearms.

Salvadora stressed that these efforts are crucial to protecting communities from the dangers posed by unregistered and illegally possessed weapons.

She reiterated that the Bataan Police will continue to track down and arrest gun runners and individuals handling loose firearms to eliminate illegal weapons circulating in the province.