Atty. Demosthenes R. Escoto was born and raised in the municipality of Oas in Albay. An achiever from an early age, he finished his primary and secondary education with flying colors. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in the Mater Salutis Seminary in Daraga, Albay, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He then earned his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the East and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2001

Atty. Escoto went on to join the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as a member of the Bureau’s legal team. He has accomplished more than a decade of service in the fisheries sector, making him one of the most knowledgeable officials in terms of the DA-BFAR’s functions and operations. In 2015, Atty. Escoto was appointed as the Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Division, and was also called to serve as the Assistant Director for Administrative Services in 2017 and as the Officer-in-Charge of the Bureau in 2022.

In 2023, he was duly appointed as the Bureau’s National Director, where he now leads the Bureau’s initiatives in ensuring a flourishing livelihood for the Filipino fisherfolk, as well as the sustainable management of the country’s rich marine and aquatic biodiversity.