GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Police and Army officials expect a peaceful celebration of the Tuna Festival until September 30 as it noted a zero crime rate since it started last August 15 amid a tight security cordon.

“We foresee a sustained zero crime rate until the festival ends on September 30,” said Senior Supt. Marcelo Pintac, GenSan police chief, in an exclusive interview Friday.

Pintac attributed the stable condition to the stringent measures applied by the police, city, provincial and regional mobile forces, and the elite Army’s anti-terror Joint Task Force GenSan led by Col. Rey Ferrer.

A back-up force from the Army’s 1002nd Brigade was also deployed by Col. Rainier Cruz III to secure local and foreign tourists and investors that joined this annual festival.

The support extended by Muslim communities in the city and vigilance of the people and local leaders,
particularly the Salaam Force, Pintac said, have contributed to the over-all stable condition prevailing in the city.

Chief Supt. Jake Cataluna, Central Mindanao police chief, earlier ordered Pintac and the Regional Intelligence Division and Regional Mobile Group to map out security plans for the duration of the Tuna Festival.