Fernandez arrived at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) main office in Intramuros, Manila at 2 p.m. last Wednesday, surprising many bureau officials and employees.

After suffering a mild stroke last March 4 and being rushed to the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City where he was confined for five days, Fernandez became the subject of rumors that he was stricken with a life-threatening illness.

Speculations spread in and out of the bureau that he was on the way out and that the Palace was scouring for a replacement.

There were rumors that Fernandez was paralyzed and physically unfit to reassume his duties as immigration chief.

The speculations were dashed last Monday – even before Fernandez returned to work – after President Arroyo announced that the BI chief was returning to his job after a month-long leave of absence.

The President visited Pangasinan last Tuesday on the eve of her 59th birth anniversary. Fernandez joined local officials in welcoming her.

Mrs. Arroyo went to Mapandan, Pangasinan to inaugurate the new police station there and the Cesar Calimlim Bridge that connects the municipality to the town of San Jacinto.

Fernandez said he went on leave for a month at the behest of his doctors who wanted him to rest and undergo therapy for his stroke.

He said he had been raring to go back to his job last week but his doctors advised him to postpone his return to the bureau for a few more days.

He added that he was supposed to reassume his post last Monday but the President’s visit to Pangasinan forced him to delay his return for another day.