MANILA, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Tuesday canceled a planned visit to Sulu in southern Philippines due to security concerns, although the security measures at the Malacanang presidential palace relaxed in comparison with the past few days.

    She was supposed to attend a high school graduation ceremony and a United Nations development program in Jolo, the biggest town of Sulu where there is a dominantly large Muslim population.

    Meanwhile, the Presidential Security Group remained on red alert, although shipping containers placed at the gates of the Malacanang presidential palace by the security guards as barricades have been removed, and search of bags of people entering the district around the palace compound was not as tight as in the past few days.

    Media people have also been allowed to stay longer at the press working area of the Kalayaan Hall inside the palace compound.

    Press Secretary and presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said these were the "physical manifestations" that the situation was improving.

    Arroyo Tuesday received at the Malacanang palace United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill and officials of the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corporation of South Korea.

    Arroyo declared a state of emergency on Friday following a failed coup attempt, which was allegedly hatched by a cousin of former president Corazon Aquino, Philippine Olympic Committee chief and business tycoon Jose "Peping" Cojuangco. Enditem