Obviously English isn't your first language. When someone says "I'm sorry," or "I apologize," They mean that they regret their previous action, and are admitting it both to themselves and to the people to whom they mistreated. I don't see anywhere in his apology an excuse. It's all apologizing for things he did, feeling remorse, asking us for forgiveness. In some senses, apologies can include an excuse, as is such in the dictionary example you have so kindly given, however, this is not always the case. If PPNL had said ''I'm sorry, but I was stoned as fuck," That would have been an excuse.
While I agree with you that there's a difference between apologizing and excuses, by the definition of excuse, it is safe to say that PPNL gave his excuses. Also, if you look at the definition of the word excuse, you will see that I am right :
http://ardictionary.com/Excuse/6128The definitions number 1, 5 and the 6th proves he was making excuses : (definition number 1): "To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or blame; to clear from guilt; to release from a charge; to justify by extenuating a fault; to exculpate; to absolve; to acquit. "
If you still don't believe me, go read the definition of absolve and acquit atleast. I'm not saying he wasn't apologizing, I'm saying there was excuses into this. And you can't say there was only apologizing, because the definition number 6 of excuse is : "The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation. "
Maybe the word "excuse" has a larger sense that you thought.