Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno yesterday warned jail wardens of outright dismissal from service if drugs are confiscated from any inmate under their watch following the ?one-strike policy.?

He said the measure was being implemented along President Arroyo?s directive for ?government to intensify its anti-illegal drugs campaign, and in order to eradicate illegal drug activities in district, city, and municipal jails.?

He issued Circular 2009-02, directing the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to regularly conduct random drug tests on its officers and staff assigned to various localities in regions all over the country.

?Any officer or non-officer found positive for use of dangerous drugs, as defined by law, shall be dealt with criminally and/or administratively by the BJMP in accordance with existing laws, policies and guidelines governing BJMP personnel,? Puno said.

He tasked Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus to look into the results of the drug tests.

Puno said he would not hesitate to sack wardens who fail to cleanse their areas of jurisdiction under the doctrine of command responsibility.

He ordered more greyhound operations, or surprise inspections and searches, inside the detention facilities to flush out all kinds of unauthorized objects and substances.

While the jail warden could face administrative charges for neglect of duty to stop the drug problem in his area, criminal charges of violation of Republic Act 9165 would be filed against an inmate found in possession of drugs or drug use.

According to Puno, a jail warden is presumed to have knowledge of illegal drug activities when ?the illegal drug activities are widespread within his responsibility, when the illegal drug activities have been repeatedly or regularly committed within his or her area of responsibility, and when members of his or her immediate staff or office personnel are involved.?

He said command responsibility in the one-strike policy would not applied in cases when a warden on his initiative was able to confiscate drugs, or apprehend personnel or inmates violating RA 9165.

Puno directed BJMP chief Rosendo Dial to spearhead greyhound operations to fully enforce Malaca?ang?s hardline stance against illegal drugs. Rio N. Araja and Romie A. Evangelista