<Li> Maritime domain awareness, </Li> <Li> building up the capacities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, </Li> <Li> and counter terrorism . </Li> <P> In April 2014, a ten - year pact (EDCA--Enhanced Defence Co-operation Agreement) was signed between the U.S. President, Barack Obama and the Philippine President, Benigno Aquino III, allowing United States to increase military presence in the Philippines . </P>

Why did american leaders think it was important to keep the phillipines