Chan finally free after being held captive by Abu Sayyaf for 177 days

What a relief: Sabah CID chief SAC Salehudin Abdul Rahman (left) with Chan and his wife Chin. With them is Sandakan police chief ACP Zabidi Zain (right). (inset) Chan before his abduction.

KOTA KINABALU: “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Those were the first words uttered by a grateful and relieved Chan Sai Chuin, 32, upon his release by the Abu Sayyaf terror group after 177 days in captivity on the southern Philippine island of Jolo.