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Philippine prisoners thrill the web

The dance routines were aimed at motivating inmates to exercise [AFP]

Thirty-six year old Crisanto Niere has been awaiting trial for five years in the Cebu provincial detention and rehabilitation centre, accused of selling illegal drugs, he faces a life sentence if convicted.For him and many other prisoners, days were habitually filled with boredom and despair.

But not anymore.

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Since the prison’s physical fitness programme was redesigned Crisanto and his fellow inmates have become musical stars.

Some of the 1500 inmates at Cebu now perform mass choreographed dance moves to the strains of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Queen’s Radio Gaga and a number from the hit film Sister Act among others.

Byron Garcia, a security consultant at the prison, says the thinking behind the move was “by music we can communicate more to the inmates. Penetrate their psyche … the end goal would be discipline”.

“Three years ago – these inmates were very unruly,” he says.

Accused murderers, drug dealers and rapists number among the Cebu inmates and they perform the dances for a bit of exercise and a bit of fun. And it has changed prison life.