MANILA – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has delivered a speech without sex jokes and expletives — telling the gathering of Miss Universe contestants that he was told to watch his language.

Mr Duterte told the women at Malacanang presidential palace on Monday that he had never been in a ”roomful of beautiful women” and adding ”I hope that this day will never end”.

Eighty-six candidates will vie for the Miss Universe crown on Jan 30 in Manila.

Mr Duterte has been criticised for a number of his remarks on women, including a comment about the length of Vice President Leni Robredo’s skirt in a Cabinet meeting and a rape joke about an Australian murder victim during the presidential campaign last year.