Cebu governor Gwen Garcia had ordered put on hold of the public performances and rehearsals of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) inmates. The dancing CPDRC inmates becomes an internet sensation in 2007 after their version of Michael Jackson’s ‚ÄúThriller‚Äù was posted on YouTube.

The dancing inmates become even more famous after Jackson’s choreographer, Travis Payne, appeared with them last month in a dance video for the DVD release of Jackson’s “This is It” concert under an exclusive arrangement with Sony Entertainment.

Governor Garcia ordered the put on hold on orders due to the reports she received where donations for inmates went.
The status of Byron Garcia, Capitol security consultant, remains up in the air as the governor has not renewed his contract for 2010 pending review.

The inmates’ longstanding choreographer, Gwen Lador, resigned.

Governor Garcia told in a news conference that she decided to temporarily stop the CPDRC dancing inmates after talks circulated that some people benefited from donations given to CPRDC.

“Precisely because of the sudden peak of their fame, I think you are all aware of the intrigues, the innuendos, the whispers, unfairly or unjustly accusing certain personalities of benefiting from such fame,” she said.

“In order to put a stop to all of this, I issued a memorandum reminding one and all that all activities that have been going on must be cleared with the Office of the Governor, namely myself. After all, as the official jailer, I will be ultimately responsible for anything and everything that goes on there.”

In the meantime, dancing in the CPDRC has been suspended.


Governor Garcia said she told jail officials to intensify the program on planting of crops inside the compound instead. Governor Garcia started the agricultural program in December 2004 when the jail was transferred to its present site in a hilly part of barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

“I have instructed our social welfare and provincial health offices and the Provincial Agriculture Office to continue with our program,” Gwen said.

“In terms of their continuing to dance, tanawn nato. Naa pa man ug nabalik naman ang mga CD sa kanang ilang background music. Since the choreographer has resigned, we will see if we will find another one,” she said.

Garcia said she didn’t want let the dance performances overshadow the rehabilitation program.

“The real story there is their rehabilitation, their transformation and the program that has given them the encouragement to become useful and upright citizens inside the CPDRC,” she said.

She said she wanted transparency in the accounting of all donations given to the provincial jail.

No details were given. The governor only said that there was need to correct some practices.

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