CEBU , Philippines ( CNN ) -- Amid the tropical heat of a Philippine prison , convicted murderers , rapists and drug dealers on Saturday paid tribute to Michael Jackson with a reprise of their YouTube dance hit , `` Thriller . '' Inmates at the prison in Cebu perform their tribute to Michael Jackson Saturday . A rendition of Jackson 's 1980s smash hit by prisoners at the Cebu Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the central Philippines garnered more than 24 million views since 2007 , when prison supervisor Byron Garcia first uploaded it to the video-sharing Web site . The prison has since posted other dance videos , including performances to Van Halen 's `` Jump , '' Queen 's `` Radio Ga Ga , '' and Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder 's `` Together in Electric Dreams . '' Jackson , known as the `` King of Pop , '' died Thursday in Los Angeles , less than two weeks shy of the first in a series of comeback concerts in London , England . When he heard the news , Garcia , himself a fan of the 50-year-old pop icon , organized a free tribute performance by inmates for local people in the prison courtyard . Dancing was introduced at the prison in 2007 , as a means of rehabilitating prisoners at a facility once notorious for its gang problem . Watch the prisoners dance » . Every able-bodied prisoner must dance . If they refuse , they lose privileges , mostly conjugal visits . According to Garcia , the dancing occupies up to five hours a day . However he rejected claims he 's abusing the prisoners ' rights by forcing them to dance so many hours a day . He said it gives them a renewed sense of worth and confidence , breaking them of their violent ways . He is convinced his prison is a model for prison authorities everywhere , an example of how to crack the plague of violent prison gangs . `` It brought back their self esteem . We have happy inmates now -- we do n't want to go back to the old jail where we had mad , sad inmates , '' he said . In searing temperatures , 1,400 men in bright orange tracksuits performed the 15-minute `` Thriller '' routine perfectly . They rehearsed for 10 hours the previous day , finally stopping at 3 a.m. to rest ahead of the show . The superbly-choreographed moves , energy and obvious enthusiasm of the prisoners had the audience -- swelled by journalists from around the world -- captivated the audience . Several inmates even invited people from the crowd to dance with them . `` I never thought I would ever find myself dancing with a prisoner , '' one excited local said . A local journalist even described the performance as Asia 's best way of paying tribute to Jackson . Garcia , who says the prison has witnessed no violence in three years , paid tribute to the performers . `` I 'm so proud of them , '' he said . `` They got the dance exactly right . '' Although it was `` probably wishful thinking , '' he added that he had actually wanted Michael Jackson to come to Cebu to dance and play the role himself . `` Now it 's not going to happen , '' he said mournfully . Convicted robber Mavin Cabido , 23 , said : `` I feel so sad as we idolize him really . The moonwalk is my favorite -- I like that . ''
Their 2007 video of ` ` Freedom '' has attracted 100 million views on YouTube . Prison supervisor Byron Garcia first uploaded it to the video - sharing website . Dancing introduced to prisoners as a means of escape .