MANILA -- Just days after it was erroneously reported that he had died of cardiac arrest, veteran actor Julio Diaz returned to the ABS-CBN's primetime hit "Ang Probinsyano."

Diaz's character George Hernandez was re-introduced in Thursday's episode of the popular drama series.

A criminal and a hold-upper, Hernandez famously fought with lead character Cardo’s twin brother, Ador (also played by Coco Martin) on top of a moving Philippine National Railways train.

On Thursday, Hernandez returned as an inmate, who is in the same prison as Tomas Tuazon (Albert Martinez).

Just last May, Diaz underwent brain surgery and the acclaimed actor admitted that he is really lucky to have survived.

Diaz is best known for the 1993 award-winning epic "Sakay." Before his surgery, he was able to finish work on Mendoza's "Ma' Rosa," which won for Jaclyn Jose the best actress prize at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.