CI Model with set() option to escape

Is it possible to add the set method to the CI Model which allows you to set escape to false?

I would like to be able to use MySQL functions for example UTC_TIMESTAMP() but it's not possible without the set and escape options.

PHP Code:

$data = [
    'id'       => 3,
    'username' => 'darth',
    'email'    => '[email protected]'
];

$userModel->set('datetime', 'UTC_TIMESTAMP()', false)->save($data); 


Thanks in advance

Not really the answer you're looking for, but I've either fallen back to a PHP function to get the value I want to insert or use the Query Builder.