The US and the Philippine government inked a deal to return sovereignty to the Philippines in 1942. That was interrupted by the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Philippines in 1941. After the war, the sovereignty deal was honored, but global conditions made the Navy base there a security necessity for all concerned.

As for stealing resources, not so. the Philippines had no significant resources of interest to the US, and we bought their produce at market prices.

Prostitution near a military base is a global phenomenon. Mr. Mejia may take a moralistic view of it, but prostitution is by mutual agreement.