E eles fizeram novamente. Em 27 de junho, os prisioneiros de Cebu dançaram uma das músicas de Michael Jackson em uma performance em tributo pelo um ano de morte do famoso ícone da música [en].

Em 2007, mais de mil internos de um presídio de segurança máxima em Cebu, província da ilha central das Filipinas, se tornaram mundialmente conhecidos depois que as autoridades postaram na Internet um vídeo com os prisioneiros dançando “Thriller”, de Michael Jackson.

Com mais de 42 milhões de acessos no YouTube, o vídeo dos prisioneiros de Cebu se tornou um dos mais assistidos na Internet.

Lindsay's Adventure in the Philippines [Aventuras de Lindsay nas Filipinas] achou estranho a imagem de prisioneiros dançando:

For the past few years, they have been using this dance program as part of their rehabilitation program, as a means of positive reinforcement for the inmates. It was quite a strange sight watching over 1,000 inmates in bright orange pants perform choreographed dances. There was even a specialized group of dancers who were better than the rest and therefore were highlighted in the center of the other dancers.

The Fountain Yield [Rendimento da Fonte] viu as performances como uma forma de terapia para os prisioneiros:

We all need to be healed, every one has the right to be given another chance. The best way to heal ourselves if through any form of art. Art gives spirit freedom to express itself. These people obviously have suffered from certain blockages in their life that is why they ended up in prison. Dancing is a form of release for them. Aside from the fact that it could lift up their morale. This could give them more optimism once they get out of prison.

Entretanto, Hellagood Ed's Wee Weblog questiona  o papel da música na reabilitação de prisioneiros:

Are human rights being ignored for the cause of misguided attempt to stop prisoner rebellion and instead the desire to control every action of law-breakers has become a publicity stunt? If the punishment is to suit the crime its hard to see how all the prisoners fit into these routines given that their crimes range from murder to shoplifting… If prisoners are forced into dance skits, how much rehabilitation are they really benefiting from?

No ano passado, este mesmo grupo de prisioneiros fez uma performance em tributo a Michael Jackson dois dias depois de sua morte. A gravação oficial desta performance ainda será colocada online. Aqui está um vídeo não-oficial da performance deste ano: